Ten tribal and dalit girls from various parts of India were honoured for their academic excellence at a recent function in the national capital.

The awards have been hailed as a novel and unique move by the Catholic Church in India to reach out and encourage the less fortunate girl children, Sister Talisha Nadukudiyil, national secretary for the Council for Women under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), said at the October 6 award ceremony.

According to the Sisters of Destitute nun, the move will bring to the limelight those blessed with intellectual acuity to reach the high spectrum of life.The selection of the awardees was made on the basis of their outstanding performance in studies, despite their financial, cultural and geographical hedges, the nun explained. This is the second year the award program was organized by the women council in collaboration with the CBCI Offices for Dalit and Tribal Affairs.