Press Release
Sahyadri Hirkani Award salutes nine woman of substance from Maharashtra
MUMBAI: A woman of substance is a woman of power, a woman of positive influence and a woman of meaning. A brainchild of Doordarshan ADG Mukesh Sharma, Sahyadri Hirkani Awards honoured nine distinguished women from across Maharashtra who, with sheer grit and determination, left their stamp in a male-dominated arena and brought the desired social change in the society.
The awards were decided by an independent jury and prominent personality’s viz., Neela Satyanarayan – Retd. State Election Commissioner of Maharashtra, Smita Jaykar – Film & TV personality, Vikram Gokhale – legendary Film & TV Personality, Sunder Chand Thakur – Editor, Navbharat Times Newspaper.
The Nine Hirkani Award recipients during the award ceremony were:
Surekha Dalvi : For over 25 years, land rights activist Surekha Dalvi has been championing the cause of tribal ownership of land in Maharashtra’s picturesque Konkan region. A great fighter, Surekha and her activist colleagues taking this cause as a mission work for all over upliftment of the adivasis.
Kalpana Kharade: “A visionary without sight” Kalpana Kharade, inspite of losing her eyesight, pursued academic milestones, a former elementary school teacher with teaching experience in urban BMC and Private schools , has scaled great heights professionally all due to sheer determination and persistence. She is presently Associate Professor, a recognized PHD guide and vice-president of K J Somaiya College of Education, Training and Research.
Malati Waman Joshi: Since last 30 years her institution “Chaitanya Mauli Vishwasta Mandal” developed conductive programs for empowering children and women belonging to the socially and economically marginalized groups. Her project “Sanskar Varg” benefited adolescent children from various oppressed locations. Its activities are closely linked with Study centre (Abhyasika) along with vocational training and are providing various health related services in the form of regular health camp.
Shobha Sakharwade: Hailing from Banaras, Sakharwade work in the social sphere since two decades through the voluntary organization Prakriti. Sakharwade decided to focus on upliftment of women after knowing the three biggest challenges that the women were facing – livelihood, children’s education and hindrances created by the society especially in backward areas. She initiated local resource teams which are active in reaching even those women who are not confident enough to ask for help and accordingly, her organization focused on making women self-sustaining by instilling self-confidence in them.
Anuradha Bhosale: A renowned grassroots women’s rights and anti-child labor activist based in Kolhapur. A former child-laborer herself at the age of six, she has spent the past 20 years fighting for the prevention of child exploitation, labor, trafficking, and female infanticide. As founder of the AVANI organization, she has facilitated the rescue of 541 child laborers, provided 5,604 nomadic migrant children and school drop outs the right to health care and education, organized the construction of schools inside the brickyard labor camps and established a residential home for migrant children.
Rajani Limaye: The Founder & Chairperson of Probhodhini Trust, an institution for the welfare of mentally challenged individuals. It functions as a training and rehabilitation center for adult mentally challenged individuals, who get trained for a life they can lead with dignity, making them self sufficient, independent and a productive part of the family and the society. Over 300 students are on roll participating in various activities of projects of the institution.
Neeta Tatke: An expert/ Trainer and PhD in “Sport Psychology”, she has been training girls in Mallakhamb, a traditional Indian sport. Dr. Neeta has represented India at various international platforms and coordinated the 1st German Mallakhamb tour.
Vaishali Ruikar: She is a trained Auxiliary & Midwifery Nurse in Pune. Since last 45 years she has been working each day to reduce the pain of her patients especially by doing those impeccable bed sore dressings. Her dedication to the work keeps her going even today, in-spite of her failing health. In today busy world it has become very difficult to take care of bed ridden patients. Long back in 1994 she gave this a thought and came up with the idea of Patient-care Bureau. She is also a recipient of National Florence Nightingale Awards, 2014.
Rohini Limaye: Started her career as a voluntary social worker for the handicapped and became a professional trained teacher for the deaf. She is the founder trustee of Janikibai Shiukshan Sanstha, Vikas Vidayalaya established in 1966 which educates the deaf students with Proper education while providing suitable hearing aid which is the only remedy for deafness. This sanstha also received the National Award for the “Best school for the Handicapped” at the hands of the president of India in New Delhi.
A special ‘Hirkani Visesh Sanman’ is given every year to a talent for appreciating the work done by a woman in their respective field and this year Urmila Pawar is awarded in this category. She is considered to be one of the most acclaimed Marathi writers representing Dalit culture and gender issues. Her stories resound with her own self definition, which is, a woman, a dalit and a Buddhist. Her Book “Aaidaan” is her own autobiography which is translated in English as “The weave of my life – a Dalit woman’s Memoirs’” Her most recent work, Mother Wit, is testimony to her gritty, vivid stories, which are an important part of Indian Dalit Literature, as well as Indian feminist literature.
These Hirakani’s received awards from Anil Wanvari – Editor in Chief – Indian Television Dot Com, Ravindra Awati – President Corporate Affairs – Reliance Industries, Kiran Juneja – Film & TV personality, Bharat Dabholkar –Actor & Director, Mahesh Kothare -Film & TV personality, Aishwarya & Avinash Narkar – Film & TV personality, Kiran Shantaram and many more.
Sahyadri Hirkani Sanman Sohala will telecast on DD Sahayadri Channel on the special occasion of International Women’s Day, Sunday, 8 March 2015 from 4:30 p.m. onwards.
Bali is full of memorable moments, and some of them involve animals. Temple monkeys tug at bags, beach dogs nap near sunbeds, and cats wander into cafés like they own the place. Most interactions are harmless, but a bite or scratch can change the day quickly, because you may need immediate medical care and follow-up treatment. This is where Bali travel insurance becomes more than a box to tick.
In this article, you will explore whether animal bite treatment is insured, the exclusions, and the steps to claim easily in Bali.
Why Animal Bites in Bali Need Special Attention
Bites are not only about the visible wound. Insurers and doctors both treat them as medical events that can pose an infection risk, especially when the bite breaks the skin.
A scratch that looks small in the moment can still lead to:
● A doctor’s examination and wound cleaning
● Medicines and dressings
● Follow-up consultations if the doctor advises observation or further care
From an insurance perspective, this matters because claims are usually assessed on medical necessity and documentation, not on how dramatic the injury appears in a photo.
How International Travel Insurance Looks at an Animal Bite
Most travel policies are built around emergency medical expenses for unexpected illness or accidental injury abroad. A bite or scratch usually fits the accidental injury bucket, but coverage is rarely blanket.
In many plans, the following may be considered if a doctor prescribes them and bills and medical notes support them:
● Consultation and outpatient treatment
● Emergency care and procedures, such as wound dressing or stitches, if clinically required
● Prescribed medicines and investigations
● Hospitalisation if the treating doctor confirms it is needed
Common Reasons Claims Get Reduced or Rejected
This is the part travellers often miss. Insurers usually do not deny claims because an animal was involved. Claims become difficult when the event looks avoidable, the reporting is delayed, or the paperwork is weak.
Avoidable-Risk Situations Insurers Scrutinise
Policies commonly exclude or limit claims linked to unsafe conduct or preventable exposure. For animal bites, scrutiny may increase if the incident appears connected to:
● Provoking, feeding, or trying to handle wild animals
● Ignoring warning signs at tourist spots
● Being intoxicated at the time of the incident
● Activities that a policy lists as excluded or restricted
The takeaway is simple: if your own description sounds like a risky choice rather than a sudden accident, the insurer may challenge it.
Delays, Missing Papers, and Policy Conditions
Even when your incident is genuinely accidental, claims can still stall due to basics such as:
● Not informing the insurer or assistance partner within the required time
● Missing itemised bills, prescriptions, or clinical notes
● No proof of travel dates or passport entry details when requested
● Submitting only pharmacy slips without a doctor’s consultation record
International travel insurance is paperwork-driven. If you document it well, you reduce the chance of avoidable back-and-forth.
What to Do If You Are Bitten or Scratched in Bali
Your health comes first, always. But a few sensible steps can protect your recovery and keep your insurance file clean.
Medical Steps That Help You and Your Claim
Act fast, stay calm, and get proper care before worrying about bills.
● Clean the wound promptly and seek medical care, even if it seems minor
● Follow the doctor’s advice, including follow-ups if recommended
● Avoid self-medicating in place of a clinical assessment, because insurers often ask for a doctor’s report
Claim Notes and Documents to Collect
Keep these handy; they’ll save time and avoid follow-up questions later.
● Doctor’s notes that mention the nature of injury, treatment given, and advised next steps
● Prescriptions and pharmacy invoices
● Itemised hospital or clinic bills
● A brief written note of where and when it happened, while it is still fresh in your mind
Final Word
Animal bites in Bali are not rare, and they are not always dramatic, which is exactly why travellers underestimate them. Many travel policies can cover bite-related medical treatment when it is accidental and medically necessary, but the outcome depends on your policy terms and the quality of your documentation. If you buy cover thoughtfully, keep the assistance number handy, and respond sensibly if an incident happens, you give yourself the best chance of both good medical care and a smoother claim experience.
