Bedavati Devi Best Emerging Women Librarian Award, 2026

1. Introduction (About the Award)

This award was instituted by Dr. Jyotika Devi, President of WLAA, in commemoration of her late mother-in-law, Bedavati Devi, as a heartfelt token of appreciation for her continuous and unwavering support. Bedavati Devi was a deeply religious woman. She got married at the age of just twelve, while she was still studying in primary school. Although she had to marry at a very young age, she was born and raised in a highly educated family. Perhaps because of this upbringing, she always made an effort to educate herself. She read many religious books in Assamese literature and also wrote two books on Naam (devotional chanting of God's name).

2. Components of Award:

• Citation

• Shawl

• Xorai

• Cash Prize: 10,000/-

3. Eligibility Criteria

• The Candidate must be a resident of Assam

• Gender: Open exclusively to women LIS professionals.

• Age: The nominee/applicant must be up to 60 years of age as of the submission deadline.

• Membership: Must be an active member of WLAA at the time of nomination.

• Employment: Must be currently working as a professional in the LIS sector.

• The candidate must have published at least five papers pertaining to library and information science 

• The candidate should be known for his/her new ideas and innovations and technical / managerial skills, contributions in the field of LIS and Society.

4. Nomination Categories

Category A: Self-Nomination

• Eligible professionals may apply directly for the award.

• The applicant must submit a Statement of Purpose (SoP) (max 500 words) highlighting their professional achievements and why they believe they are a fit for the "Emerging Librarian" title.

Category B: Nomination by Others

• Colleague, head of an institution, or a professional peer may nominate an eligible candidate.

• A nominator can nominate only one person.

• The nominator must provide a Justification Letter (max 500 words) detailing the nominee’s impact on the profession.

• The nominator can be of any gender or nationality, provided the nominee meets the eligibility criteria.

5. Mandatory Attachments

The following documents must accompany the nomination form:

• Identification: Proof of Age and Citizenship (Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Passport).

• WLAA Membership: Proof of active membership status.

• Proof of Research articles.

• Bio Data or CV.

• Supporting documents: Self-attested copies of the proofs.

6. Important Terms

• Deceased Persons: Cannot be nominated. In the event of the unfortunate demise of a selected awardee before the ceremony, the plaque and certificate will be given to the heir, but the cash prize will be withheld.

• Disqualification: Any form of canvassing or lobbying for the award will lead to immediate disqualification.

• Finality: The decision of the WLAA Award Committee is final and binding. No legal challenges or correspondence regarding the decision will be entertained.

 7. Submission Procedure

• Nominations must be submitted in the prescribed format (Form A for Self-Nomination / Form B for Nomination by Others).

• Send via email with subject line “Nomination for Bedavati Devi Award 2026 - [Nominee Name]”. to womenlaassam@gmail.com or upload via Google form

• Ensure all mandatory documents are attached (see Checklist in Part F).

• Submit the completed form by September 25, 2026

• Official Announcement of the 2026 Awardee and Award Conferral Ceremony: October 3, 2026