Padma Shri Awardee Shanti Devi passed away at her residence in Gunpur, Rayagada. She was 88 years old. She was conferred with the third highest civilian honour, Padma Shri for her invaluable contribution for the upliftment of tribal girls and women in the then undivided Koraput district.
As informed by her family sources, Shanti Devi fell unconscious after chest ache following which she was rushed to the hospital. However she was declared brought dead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while condoling the loss tweeted in Odia. His tweet read,” Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”
ଶାନ୍ତି ଦେବୀ ଜୀ ଗରିବ ଏବଂ ବଞ୍ଚିତଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱର ଭାବରେ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବେ । ସେ ଦୁଃଖ ଏବଂ କଷ୍ଟ ଦୂର କରି ସୁସ୍ଥ ଓ ନ୍ୟାୟଯୁକ୍ତ ସମାଜ ଗଠନ ପାଇଁ ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ଦୁଃଖିତ । ତାଙ୍କର ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗ ଓ ଅଗଣିତ ପ୍ରଶଂସକଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି pic.twitter.com/UBFDPDSvtm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2022
Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik also expressed his grief on his twitter.
ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ପୁରସ୍କାର ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ସମାଜସେବୀ ଶାନ୍ତି ଦେବୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଅସହାୟ ଓ ଆଦିବାସୀଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନବ୍ୟାପୀ ଉଦ୍ୟମ ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରେରଣାଦାୟୀ। ସମାଜସେବା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 17, 2022