Bhubaneswar: Jnanpith awardee Sitakanta Mahapatra was conferred with the prestigious Ruchi Bharat Gourav Samman at the 16th Ruchi Prativa Samman ceremony here today at city-based Hotel Swosti Premium.

Professor and Head of Department of Transplant Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh Dr Mukut Minz, who holds the record of transplanting maximum number of kidneys in the country, was awarded with Ruchi Odisha Gourav Samman.

Anupam Shaha, topper among Odisha candidates in Civil Services Examinations and international Kabaddi player Rashmita Sahoo got Ruchi Vidyasagar Samman and Ruchi Barabati Samman respectively. This year's HSC topper Divyanshu Kar of Aupada High School, Balasore, and Sthitaprajna Nathasharma of Ravenshaw Collegiate School were also felicitated.

Speaking on the occasion, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India GB Patnaik lauded the efforts of the Ruchi industry.

Chief administrator of Jagannath temple, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (central) Arabinda Padhi, eminent economist Baidyanath Mishra and Public Relation Officer, Ruchi Masala Industries and Ruchi Foundation, Suvendu Kumar Bhuyan, were a present.