Rayagada: Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met eminent social worker Shanti Devi at her residence in Rayagada on Friday.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had specifically asked to meet her and seek her blessings,” he told the media.
Padma awardee Shanti Devi contributed towards restoring peace in the Maoist-affected areas in Odisha.
A native of Balasore, she moved to Koraput and then to Rayagada after her marriage. She founded an ashram at Gobarapalli in Rayagada district. She also started an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda under Padmapur block in Rayagada district. After working for a long time at Jabarguda, she shifted to Gunupur and founded Seva Samaj ashram there in 1964 for imparting education to the tribal girls. She wanted to make all girls self-sufficient so that they can live with self-respect in society. She also set up another ashram at Gunupur for the education, rehabilitation and vocational training of orphans and destitute children.
In 1994, she received Jamunalal Bazaz Award. She is also a recipient of Radhanath Rath peace award and many state-level and national-level awards.
Vaishnaw was received by enthusiastic BJP workers, Rayagada administration and railway officials upon his arrival here this morning.
After reaching Bhubaneswar and a trip to Puri and back, the Railway Minister had boarded Hirakand Express on Thursday night. He was seen interacting with passengers overnight journey from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada. He also spoke about PM’s vision about railways and its development in the country.
He is scheduled to attend Jan Ashirwad Yatra and later meet the beneficiaries of Ujjwala and PMAY.
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