Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu felicitated three persons from Odisha with the National Service Scheme (NSS) Award for the year 2020-21 in New Delhi on Saturday.
They are Dillip Kumar Parmanik, programme officer of RDS Degree College in Mayurbhanj district, volunteers Akankhya Kabi, a student of School of Law, and Pratik Dash of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), both in Bhubaneswar.
The award was given to recognise and reward their outstanding contribution to voluntary community service.
Dillip received a cash reward of Rs 1.5 lakh with a certificate and silver medal while Akankhya and Pratik got Rs 1 lakh each with certificates and silver medals.
Under Dillip’s guidance, NSS volunteers of RDS Degree College motivated 213 people for organ donation. He also provided free computer training to 230 students and organised awareness campaigns to save bio-diversity in the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj.
Akankhya worked as the Goodwill Ambassador of Child Act in the year 2019-20 for People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC) and rendered service as a Swachha Bharat ambassador. She planted more than 400 saplings and organised 215 awareness campaigns on government schemes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pratik created awareness on the importance of taking vaccines. He was also involved in promoting public awareness about government schemes.
