Bhubaneswar: Well-known social worker of Odisha Shanti Devi, who had recently been conferred with India’s third highest civilian honour Padma Shri, passed away on Sunday night.
The news about her demise was shared by Achyut Das, the Director of Agragamee, a social organisation in which Shanti Devi was the vice-president since inception.
Born on April 18, 1934, in Balasore, Shanti Devi had moved to Koraput after her marriage to Dr Ratan Das at the age of 17. She started her career as a social worker with the support of her husband.
Shanti Devi mainly worked for the development and education of tribal girls. She had set up an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda under Padmapur block in Rayagada district.
She also founded the Seva Samaj ashram at Gunupur in 1964 for imparting education to the tribal girls. She also set up another ashram at Gunupur for the education, rehabilitation and vocational training of orphans and destitute children.
Shanti Devi was also associated with a number of Gandhian organisations. In 1994, she received Jamunalal Bazaz Award. She is also a recepient of Radhanath Rath peace award and many state level and national-level awards.
