Professor Neelu Rohmetra, Director IIM Sirmaur has received the 'First Ladies Award' on January 20th, 2018 . The felicitation event was held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, wherein she joined over interaction with 100 other exceptional women achievers in the Country in varied areas. She was selected by Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, then Union Minister of Women & Child Development, for this honour for being the 'First woman to head an IIM'. The Award Ceremony was hosted by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India.

Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon'ble President of India along with Mrs. Kovind interacted with all the First Ladies. Occasion was graced by several other Women Ministers in the Union Cabinet.

Among the prominent others who were the part of the ceremony and who were felicitated were Priya Jhingan - First Lady Cadet to join Indian Army, Dr. Sneh Bhargava, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ms BenoZephine, Nicole Faria, Padma Sachdev, Naina Lal Kidwai,  Dr. S. Padmavati, Tessy Thomas, Bachendri Pal, Dipa Karmakar,  Sakshi Malik and many more.

The objective behind the event was to commemorate the achievements of women, who rose through barriers, set standards in society and did not succumb to oppressive notions, becoming the first women to excel in the fields which were thought to be beyond them. This unusual event is an initiative to recognize women who had the courage to tread unusual path and succeeded in being the "Firsts, in their respective Fields”