Padma awardees list of 106 personalities includes 6 PadmaVibhushan, 9 PadmaBhushan, and 91 PadmaShri

Agartala: The Ministry of Cultural Affairs this year went far and wide across the country to select a variety of unknown talents, personalities for prestigius Padma Awards, like vetran singer Vani Jairam, tabla mastro Zakir Hussain, ORS inventor, Infosys founder wife Sudha Murthy, SP founder Mulayam S Yadav and Former Revenue Minister of BJP government in Tripura, late veteran tribal leader Narendra Chandra Debbarma has been posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for this year in the public affairs category, while another veteran social activist of the state Bikram Bahadur Jamatia was honoured for his exemplary contribution to social work.
Debbarma died three weeks ago after prolonged suffering at the age of 84. An Information Service Officer turned politician had launched a democratic movement for Tipraland two and a half decades back when armed insurgency for a separate state within the territory of Tripura was at its peak.
“NC Debbarma would always be remembered for his people-oriented politics, and his work for the well-being of the people, particularly for the tribal community. The Centre’s decision to award Padma Shri to Debbarma is an honour to us,” said BJP’s tribal front – Janajati Morcha General Secretary Devid Debbarma.
The eminent social activist Bikram Bahadur Jamatia was the “Akraa” (priest) of Jamatia Hoda, an apex body of the Jamatia tribe which works for socio-economic and educational aspects. A retired Tripura government official, Jamatia had played a very courageous and significant role against insurgency in Tripura for a long time.
These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions to be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in March/April.  (UNI)