Bhubaneswar :Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today felicitated three families from Puri, Ganjam and Khurda districts with the Suraj award. The awardees are Rani Patra from Digapahandi, Suchitra Das from Bhubaneswar and Rajlaxmi Das of Delang.
Suraj Award was announced by the Chief Minister in November 2019 to recognise Bhanjanagar youth Suraj who died in a road accident in Surat. After his death, Suraj’s organs could save six lives. His parents had met Naveen on November 11 at Lok Seva Bhavan, when the CM announced Suraj Awards to recognise and encourage cadaveric organ donation.
“Suraj is an inspiration for all of us and shines bright as the sun, even after his death. He and the awardees today are living examples of humanity and service to the society,” Naveen said on the occasion.
To commemorate the award ceremony which took place on video conferencing, Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro, Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and MLA Pradip Maharathi were attended the event from Digapahandi, Bhubaneswar and Pipili. The family members of the awardees were also present.