Assam to confer own civilian awards on lines of Padma honours

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that ₹5 lakh will be given to Asom Ratna awardee, ₹3 lakh to Asom Bibhushan, ₹2 lakh to Asom Bhushan and ₹1 lakh to Asom Shree awardees every year.

Published on: Jun 9, 2021, 08:07:50 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The Assam government on Tuesday decided to start the state’s own civilian awards on the lines of Padma honours to felicitate distinguished personalities from various fields.

The decision to start a new set of state awards was announced by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after the 4th cabinet meeting. (ANI)

The Asom Ratna award, which was earlier conferred once every three years, will now be given every year to one person who has made significant contribution to society. Three sets of new awards, Asom Bibhushan, Asom Bhushan and Asom Shree will also be conferred yearly to three, five and 10 persons respectively.

“ ₹5 lakh award money will be given to Asom Ratna, ₹3 lakh to Asom Bibhushan, ₹2 lakh to Asom Bhushan and ₹1 lakh to Asom Shree. The awardees will also get benefits like free medical treatment of critical illness, free stay at Asom Bhawans, free travel in Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) buses etc.” Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

This has been done on the lines of Padma Awards, which are one of the highest civilian honours in the country to recognize achievements in all fields where an element of public service is involved. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day

The cabinet also decided that from now on all state government offices will have to put up photos of the President, Prime Minister and that of Gopinath Bordoloi, the first chief minister of Assam. The first budget session of the state assembly will be held on July 12.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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