Bhubaneswar: As many as six eminent personalities from Odisha have been selected for the Padma Shri award while one will receive the Padma Bhushan award.
Ministry of Home Affairs has notified para-athlete Pramod Bhagat (Sports), Aditya Prasad Dash (Science and Engineering), Narasingha Prasad Guru (Literature and Education), Shyamamani Devi (Art), Srimad Baba Balia (Social Work) and former Union Secretary Guru Prasad Mahapatra (Posthumous) will get the Padma Shri award.
Likewise, Pratibha Ray will be conferred with the Padma Bhushan in the Literature and Education category.
Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.