Come up with more nominations for Padma Awards: PM to countrymen
Modi stressed the importance of recognising grassroots-level heroes who have made significant contributions to society.
President Ram Nath Kovind will confer Padma awards of 2018 to the second batch of 43 awardees at an investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday. The first batch of 42 awardees was honoured at a special function on March 20.
This year, the President of India approved conferment of 85 Padma awards. The list comprises three Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan and 73 Padma Shri awards. As many as 16 awardees are from the category of foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, while three are posthumous awardees.
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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hosted a dinner and addressed the second batch of awardees at an interactive session on Sunday. Congratulating them, he said the country was proud of all the Padma Awardees as they had a major contribution in the nation’s progress, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau.
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Speaking on the occasion, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said every Padma awardee worked hard in his or her field without any expectation of returns from the society. She appealed to media to highlight their achievements which were “adbhut, aviswasneeya aur akalpaniya” (Extraordinary, unbelievable and unimaginable). She specially mentioned about the contribution of awardees from the ASEAN countries.
Several award winners shared their work and experiences on the occasion.
MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju, Secretary to President of India Sanjay Kothari and Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba were also present on the occasion.
Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, are given in various disciplines or fields of activities, such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service. While Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan is given for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
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