After a gap of 18 years, the State Government on Monday decided to increase the amount of the prestigious Konark Samman from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The enhanced award would be effective retrospectively from 2013. A decision to this effect was taken at the State Council of Culture which met here under the chairmanship of Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
The annual Konark Samman was instituted by the Government to honour a personality every year for outstanding lifetime contribution for growth of art, culture, dance, music and architecture. The award was given to flute player Pandit Hari Prasad Chourasia in 1995.