New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Eleven-year-old Om Prakash Yadav didn’t think twice before entering a burning school van to rescue the kids trapped inside. He saved eight lives, but ended up receiving 70 percent burns himself. This year, he will be among the 24 children honoured with the National Bravery Awards.

Yadav’s face scarred with burn marks tells the story of his courageous act. “But after the incident, I had to leave my old school. Nobody liked me there,” says Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

“I am glad and proud that I saved those lives, but when I was in hospital and my face had swollen due to the burns, I felt bad for myself,” Yadav told IANS.

Not just Yadav, saving their loved ones and even strangers in the face of all odds and their hour of need, 23 other young bravehearts have been named for the National Bravery Awards this year for their exemplary and inspiring acts of courage.

Of the 24 — eight girls and 16 boys — five children have been named for the honour posthumously.

Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, introduced these awards in 1957 after he was taken by surprise by a brave act of a 14-year-old scout, Harish Chandra. The boy had saved hundreds of people by ripping off a tent which caught fire due to electrical short circuit at a Dussehra function.

Since then, such heroic acts of the young ones have been recognised with these awards. Till date, 848 children have received the honour — 600 boys and 248 girls.

Kapil Negi will be conferred the Bharat Award. The 15-year-old lifted 10 of his classmates on his back to cross over a brook which was overflowing due to rains in Uttarakhand.

Unfortunately, there was a landslide and heavy boulders started falling. Seeing this, he did not run away but continued to help the younger mates. He got crushed by one of the boulders and died.

“We feel proud of him, the whole village knows about our son. I think I am in heaven to receive this award on his behalf. But the vacuum he has left in our life can never be filled,” says Kapil’s father Birendra Singh Negi.

With tears in her eyes, his mother Anita Negi adds: “He has set an example for others. He lost his life for others, that is our only consolation.”

Then there’s Mittal Patadiya, 12, who fought with criminals who came inside her house on the pretext of asking for some water to drink and placed a knife at her mother’s throat. She will be conferred with Geeta Chopra Award.

Saudhita Burman, 11, died saving her drowning sister and two cousins. Her father has come from Kolkata to receive the honour. “We are glad that her sacrifice is being recognised,” said Gautam Barman, the girl’s father.

Then there’s the family of Lovely Verma, still grieving at the girl’s death. Lovely died rescuing two drowning girls.

“We are proud for what she did. But we lost our child,” said Rajesh Kumar Verma, Lovely’s father.

Adithya Gopal will be given the Bapu Gaidhani Award. The boy had gone to wash his feet with his friends after football practice — a game he loved — when he drowned while saving his friend from a whirlpool, caused by release of water from the closeby dam.

“He was good in studies, very friendly and disciplined. If he had been here with us to receive the award, it would have been a joyous occasion. But he will always be there in our memory,” said Adithya’s father, Venu Gopal Pillai.

The children have been selected for the honour by a committee comprising representatives of various ministries, NGOs and Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW) members. They will receive a silver medal, a certificate and a cash award from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of the Republic Day Jan 26.

According to the ICCW, eligible award winners will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling as part of their sponsorship programme. They will be facilitated to study professional courses like medical and engineering under the Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme.

The children will also participate in the Republic Day parade, seated on richly caparisoned elephants.