Bhubaneswar: Members of the Pravasi Odia Vikas Samiti (POVS) celebrated the 10th annual day of Maha Bishub Sankranti 2023 with great fervor and enthusiasm at the Bharatiya Jansanchar Sansthan Auditorium in New Delhi on Saturday.
On this occasion, the Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said that Odisha is a symbol of Indian nationalism. “Lord Jagannath has bound entire India in social harmony,” she said addressing the gathering.
Gopal Arya, national pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and National Coordinator of Environment Bharti, delivered the keynote speaker on the occasion. He emphasised the development of Odisha’s water, forest, land, and resources, and the sustainable use of these. “We are able to provide necessary resources and environment for their sustenance. We can also implement various policies and achieve success. I have given these three formulae to everyone,” he said.
While recalling that during the ancient times Odisha had “influenced” the world economy, POVS president Surya Narayan Mishra – while presiding over the occasion – said, “The time has come for the State to repeat its glory.
On this occasion, well-known development professional Basanta Kumar Kar was conferred with Pravasi Odia Samman for his contribution towards eradicating malnutrition.
Prof Balaram Pani, Deen of Colleges, Delhi University, was awarded with Pravasi Odia Ratna for his contribution towards implementation of New Education Policy.
Similarly veteran surgeon Dr. Ramesh Mishra, journalist Pragnya Bharati Choudhury and Bollywood Singer Krishna Beuraa were awarded with Pravasi Odia Ratna for their contributions in their respective fields. While Dr Rath was awarded for his 50-year-long medical service, Choudhury was awarded for her contribution in the field of developmental journalism, while Beuraa was awarded for his contribution in the field of music.
The awardees were chosen by a jury comprising of former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat as chairman and retired IAS Jayadeb Sarangi, Prof Sukumar Mishra, Associate Deen in IIT Delhi, Dr Manoranjan Mohanty, Principal Scientific Advisor to PM and Prof Satya Bhushan Das, Chairperson, CMEE, IIM Lucknow, as members.
