President Smt Droupadi Murmu, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has conferred the National Florence Nightingale award on Additional Director General (ADG) of Military Nursing Service (MNS) Major General Smita Devrani and Brigadier MNS, Headquarters, Southern Command Brigadier Amita Devrani for the years 2022 and 2023 respectively. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi on June 22, 2023.
The National Florence Nightingale award, instituted by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 1973, is given to recognise the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to society. The award given to the Devrani sisters is an apt recognition for their remarkable contribution and service for almost four decades.
Major General Smita Devrani was commissioned into the MNS in 1983. Prior to assuming the charge of ADG MNS on October 01, 2021, she held various key clinical, staff and administrative appointments like Principal Matron, Army Hospital (Research & Referral); Brigadier MNS, Headquarters (Central Command); Principal Matron, Command Hospital (Southern Command) and Director MNS (Admin.).
Brigadier Amita Devrani was commissioned into the service in 1986. She assumed her present appointment of Brigadier MNS, Southern Command on September 01, 2021. She has, earlier, held various important positions like Principal College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune; College of Nursing, Army Hospital, Research & Referral and Vice Principal, College of Nursing, Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Asvini. Both sisters hail from Kotdwar district of Uttarakhand.