The Parichay Foundation organised the sixth edition of Aarya Awards on March 8 marking the International Women’s Day here. Swami Agnivesh attended the ceremony as the chief guest.
This year, Parichay laid greater focus to spread awareness on ending violence against women and as part of the endeavour, the foundation also had eminent panelists deliberating on the same issue before the award ceremony. The points raised by the panel and the suggestions that came forth during the discussion were forwarded to the Women and Child Development, Department, Government of Odisha, for further action.
The panelists included DGP RP Sharma, Professor in Anthropology, University of California, Dr Annapurna Pandey, eminent social activist Namrata Chaddha and senior journalist Sandeep Mishra. The session was moderated by Parichay’s communication consultant Dikhya Tiwari.
later, Agnivesh gave away the awards to 12 women achievers in different categories, who were selected from different parts of the country and even outside. The awardees included Subhashree Das and Madhumita Pujari for social service, Rupa Dash for entrepreneurship (NRO), Bijayalaxmi Parida for literature, Sarbani Parhi for education, Sirisa Kurami for sports, Subhadarsini Mishra for media, Sonali Mishra for art and culture, Sabarni Das for entertainment, Dr Madhuri Patnaik for medical science and Shelbi Mishra and SasmitaAdhikari as trendsetters. A women bike rally was organised from Sikharchandi to Salia Sahi.