Bhubaneswar: The 8th edition of AARYA Awards saw 18 women achievers from distinct fields being felicitated at an event, marking the International Women’s Day, here on Friday.
Science and Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability Minister Ashok Chandra Panda inaugurated the award ceremony in presence of flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Bhubaneswar North MLA Priyadarshi Mishra.
The awardees included Raj Kamal Chauhan (Lifetime Achievement, Dr. Silpi Sahoo (Education), Manasi Satpathy (Social Work), Manasmita Patra (Entrepreneur, Dr Ranjita Ghadei (Medical Science), Sudipta Nanda (Sports), Arundhati Mallick and RJ Smita Panigrahy (Media), Tarab Khan and Babita Meher (Art, Literature and Culture), Poonam Das (Entertainment), Dr. Ranjita Sahoo (NRO), Panchami Manoo Ukil (Photography), Dr. Dhruti Bal and Sunanda Mathur (Fitness, Wellness and Beauty), Anshu Pragyan Das (Ecotourism) and Kasturi Pattanaik (Dance).
The event is being organised by Parichay Foundation, a philanthropic organization engaged in promoting Indian art and culture and working in urban slums and rural parts of Odisha and New Delhi.
“I want to congratulate all the achievers and wish you all a Happy Women’s day. Parichay Foundation has been doing a commendable job for the society and I feel proud that I got an opportunity to get associated with this,” the minister said.