Governor Wins Excellence Award

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was selected for the prestigious Top-20 Global Women of Excellence award for 2020, an award given by the Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force, Illinois, headed by US Congressman Danny K Davis.

The Governor was bestowed with the honour at a virtual ceremony. The award was presented to her as part of the 9th Annual Congressional International Women's Day Gala at Illinois' Naperville, Chicago. The gala was held on March 7.

She accepted the prestigious award from Puducherry's Raj Nivas and stated that she was humbled and immensely honoured by the recognition. She also thanked the Danny K Davis-headed body for bestowing her with the honour.

In her acceptance speech, Soundararajan stated that the award would double her responsibility to intensify her work towards achieving gender equality and women empowerment, and added, "I dedicate this honour to the millions of women who toil day in and day out and help their families, societies, and countries."

She also called for sustained efforts to create a gender-equal world and promote the role of women in decision-making roles at all levels, from the local to the global arena, and emphasised her belief that gender parity was vital for the creation of an equitable and inclusive world.

The award jury, comprising members of the Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force and the Multi-Ethnic Coalition, mentioned that Soundararajan was selected for the award in recognition of her "outstanding contribution to society", and for being an "ardent advocate" of women's rights, gender parity, and women's equality.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris is among the other women who have won the award this year.