Bhubaneswar: Eminent social worker Shanti Devi and noted Culture Specialist Dr. Rajat Kumar Kar from Odisha are likely to get the Padma Shri award.
According to sources, the Government of India likely to make the official announcement of the names of people for the fourth highest civilian award of the country later in the evening today.
Dr Kar holds a rare record of being the longest and oldest active commentator of the World Famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in both TV and Radio for the last 61 years.
On the other hand, Shanti Devi, who was born on April 18, 1934, leads a voluntary body called Seva Samaj with an aim to rehabilitate the orphans and destitute children and provide them education and vocational training. She has set up an Ashram at Gunpur for this purpose.
Prior to this, she had started a small Ashram in Koraput and later established the Seva Samaj in Rayagada for the development of the girl children of the area.
It is to be noted here that the names of the awardees are generally announced by the government a day before the Republic Day celebration.
Ms Kalinga