Ati Badi Puraskar of Odisha Sahitya Akademi will now carry Rs 1 lakh in cash

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, June 23:

The state government has decided to raise the amount of cash prizes for several Odisha Sahitya Akademi awards.

This was announced by Tourism and Culture minister Ashok Panda while presiding over a review meeting on the annual activities of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi at the State Secretariat here today.

As decided in the meeting, the cash prize of Atibadi Puraskar would be hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the existing Rs 50,000, other literary awards from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 and Sarashwata Puraskar from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.

Present at the meeting, secretary, Tourism and Culture Dr Arabinda Padhee apprised the minister of the annual programmes of the Akademi.

The meeting also decided to encourage the litterateurs and literary activities in the state.

At the meeting, the Culture secretary Padhee proposed regular publication of “Konark”, a magazine of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and also of a special supplement to mark the centenary celebration of eminent litterateur Gopinath Mohanty.

Among others, additional director, Tourism and Culture, Bijay Nayak was present at the meeting.