KORAPUT: Padma Shri awardee social worker Shanti Devi (88) died at her native place at Gunupur in Rayagada district of Odisha late Sunday night.
The octogenarian, who was conferred with Padma Shri in November 21, was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital at Gunupur after she complained of chest pain and felt unconscious. She was declared dead by the doctors.
“Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka among others too expressed grief over the death of the noted social worker.
“Deeply pained over the death of Shanti Devi. Her life-ling contribution for the upliftment of tribals and marginal sections of the society is inspirational. I express my condolences for the bereaved family,” tweeted chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Born on April 18, 1934 in Balasore district, Shanti Devi had got married at the tender age of 17 to Gandhian follower Rattan Das and had shifted to Koraput district.
She had founded an ashram at Gobarapallin village in Rayagada district and worked tirelessly for the development and education of tribal girls.
Later, she founded an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda of Padmapur block in Rayagada district and after few years she shifted her base to Gunupur and founded the Seva Samaj in 1964 for imparting education to tribal girls with an aim to make the tribal girls self-reliant.
Shanti Devi had worked extensively for the rehabilitation and education of orphans and destitute children.
She was also associated with the Bhoodan movement and worked with Acharya Vinoba Bhave. In 1961, she became the secretary of Utkal Navajeenvan Mandal.
Shanti Devi is survived by her son Sidharth Das.
The octogenarian, who was conferred with Padma Shri in November 21, was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital at Gunupur after she complained of chest pain and felt unconscious. She was declared dead by the doctors.
“Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka among others too expressed grief over the death of the noted social worker.
“Deeply pained over the death of Shanti Devi. Her life-ling contribution for the upliftment of tribals and marginal sections of the society is inspirational. I express my condolences for the bereaved family,” tweeted chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Born on April 18, 1934 in Balasore district, Shanti Devi had got married at the tender age of 17 to Gandhian follower Rattan Das and had shifted to Koraput district.
She had founded an ashram at Gobarapallin village in Rayagada district and worked tirelessly for the development and education of tribal girls.
Later, she founded an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda of Padmapur block in Rayagada district and after few years she shifted her base to Gunupur and founded the Seva Samaj in 1964 for imparting education to tribal girls with an aim to make the tribal girls self-reliant.
Shanti Devi had worked extensively for the rehabilitation and education of orphans and destitute children.
She was also associated with the Bhoodan movement and worked with Acharya Vinoba Bhave. In 1961, she became the secretary of Utkal Navajeenvan Mandal.
Shanti Devi is survived by her son Sidharth Das.
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