Rayagada: The Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of IMFA Group on Friday conferred the prestigious Bansidhar & Ila Panda Saraswat Sadhana Samman to 14 distinguished personalities of the State.
The artistes were presented a cash award of Rs 51,000 each during a special function at Therubali IMFA club in Rayagada held on Friday evening.
The 14 awardees include- Nrutya Acharya Gobind Chandra Pal, Bhaktakabi Purnamasi Jani, noted singer Dr Krishna Patel, Nrutya Guru Arjun Adhikari, GhodaNach Guru Utsav Charan Das, singer Bhusan Gopabandhu Nath, playwright Atal Bihari Panda, drama artiste Soudamini Pati, instrumentalist Khagapati Bagha, musician Dandasi Gouda, Mardala exponent Prabhudutta Pradhan, music Guru P. Ramachandra, folkdance Guru Prasanna Kumar Seth and dance Guru Bhagabat Pradhan.
"This award encourages continuing with the art and further enriching it," said Ghoda Nacha Guru Utsav Charan Das.
Expressing similar views singer Sushree Dr Krishna Patel stated, "The effort of IMPaCT to award and recognise the talent of artistes is certainly commendable."
IMPaCTChairperson, Paramita Mahapatra said, "The purpose of this award is to encourage future generation to pursue the performing art."
Among others, PCCF (kendu leaf) Ajay Mohapatra, eminent writer Manmath Kumar Satpathy, educationist Dushmanta Kumar Mohanty and IMFA Corporate Affairs vice president Ashok Kumar Behera were present during the award function.