KGISL conducts Divyalakshmi Awards 2021 for women Achievers

Signora, the prize-winning multi-faceted stun gun used for self-defense was featured at the event.


Coimbatore: KGiSL Educational Institutions celebrated the women's day by honouring eminent doyennes responsible for driving remarkable achievements in their respective fields.

In a press release, "Inaugurated in 2020, the Smt. Divyalakshmi Awards endeavours to carry the torch forward every year by recognizing and commending distinguished women achievers for their compelling contributions to society.

Ringing in the International Women's Day this year, KGiSL Educational Institutions conferred the Smt. Divyalakshmi Award upon 7 esteemed personalities.

The awards were presented to Padma Shri RPappammal, the oldest living legend in organic farming, Major Divya Ajith Kumar, Corps of Army Air Defense (AAD), DrN Valarmathi, project director of RISAT-1 by ISRO, Ms PragyaPrasun, founder at Atijeevan Foundation & acid attack survivor, Dr TharaSrinivasan, co-founder & vice chairman of Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), Karpagam Mayavan, the only visually-impaired advocate at Madras High Court, and Kalki Subramaniam, transgender rights activist, artist, actress, writer, inspirational speaker, & entrepreneur.

The Smt. Divyalakshmi Awards was launched in fond remembrance ofDivyalakshmi Ashok, the late Founder-Director of KGiSL, and spouse of Dr Ashok Bakthavathsalam, to felicitate self-made women achievers in and around India.

To commemorate International Women's Day, KGiSL Educational Institutions and Eshikhya, the incubated start-up from KGiSL Institute of Technology, conducted an inter-collegiate hackathon that addressed a few pressing issues faced by women in general.

The 18-hour event took place on 1st and 2nd Marchin compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols, culminating in the award ceremony for winning innovations on the 5th.

YashManivannan, founder and CEO of Watts and Joules Inc. graced the occasion as the guest of honour during the hackathon.

Padma Shri Dr G Bakthavathsalam, Chairman of KG Hospitals and DrAshok Bakthavathsalam, founder & managing director for KGiSL Group and managing trustee of KGiSL Trust presented the awards to the deserving winners.

Twenty-eight teams, all teeming with creativity from KGiSL Institute of Technology (KiTE), KG College of Arts and Science (KGCAS) participated in the contest.

Bias KiTE Techies from KGiSL Institute of Technology bagged the 1st prize and was awarded INR 2500 for presenting the most efficacious gadget.

Signora, the prize-winning multi-faceted stun gun used for self-defense, features an electric taser, flashlight, pepper spray, power bank, Bluetooth, GPS, and a buzzer that sounds an alarm at around 40 decibels.

The device was produced from the circuit board of a mosquito bat, helping increase the odds of administering a shock to the offender by affecting his neuromuscular activity." It said.

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