Surath Patnaik, a multifaceted teacher from Rairangpur and a nature-lover, has been recently honoured with ‘Prakruti Bandhu’ award,which includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs10, 000.
He was felicitated here on Sunday at a special function in which Similipal Tiger Reserve Project Director T Ashok Kumar was the chief guest and Mayurbhanj district Collector Vineet Bharadwaj was the guest of honour. Patnaik has always been at the forefront of different reform oriented and social welfare activities, besides being reputed as an ideal teacher, in the last 28 years of his service as a teacher.
Spending money from his own pocket, he has been supporting, sustaining and educating many orphans since long. He has composed poems basing on the neglected, impoverished and oppressed children working in hotels and garages. Even during the trying times of Corona, he, along with other aides, imparted free education to slum-dwellers.
He has won several other awards for his commendable endeavors in different fields, including the award for creating plantation awareness, which he has got earlier this year.