14 women and the Women’s Development Committee of Fonadhoo island in Laamu atoll have been conferred Rehendhi Awards.

During the ceremony to confer the Rehendhi Awards for both 2020 and 2021 as the ceremony was compromised in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih attended as the Guest of Honor.

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services initiated the awarding ceremony in 2014 to celebrate women who contribute their progressive work to the betterment of the nation, the ones who empower the youth to push themselves to reach their full potential, the large accomplishments of the ones who strive to succeed and to increase the count of female employees in significant fields, including ones to which women are yet to be introduced.

The purpose of the Rehendhi Award is to recognize the outstanding contributions to societal and national development on behalf of women across different fields, and to recognize those individuals and collectives working towards women's development in the Maldives.

The awards were conferred under five categories: exclusive women nominees category, category for those providing employment opportunities to women and institutions, Women's Development Committees Category, category for clubs and NGOs working towards women's development as well as the category for men and women from the general public who have contributed outstanding efforts to women's development.

While the Gender Ministry initiated the 'Rehendhi Award' in 2014, bold and progressive women of the country have been claiming the good name since.