Padma Shri Awardee and Social activist Shanti Devi is no more

Bhubaneswar: Shanti Devi,  a well-known social worker from Odisha, passed away on Sunday night at her Gunupur residence in Rayagada district. She was 88.

As per reports, she was rushed to the district hospital after she complained of chest pain and became unconscious. Doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Shanti Devi received Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind on November 9, 2021 for her selfless work for the upliftment of underprivileged. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of the Shanti Devi. In his tweet he wrote, “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,”

Born in Balasore district in 1934, she got married at the age of 17 to Gandhian Dr Ratan Das and shifted to Koraput. Her journey as a social activist started at Gobarapalli in Rayagada district  where she founded her first ashram. She also founded an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda under Padmapur block.

Later she shifted to Gunupur and founded Seva Samaj ashram in 1964 to provide education to tribal girls.