The First National Living Legend Award 2018 was conferred on Madhu Pandit Dasa, chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, by Pratap Jena, minister of health, law, and information and broadcasting at an event hosted at The Crown Hotel in Bhubaneswar on November 16. The award was bestowed for the Foundation’s excellent and unparalleled contribution to alleviate hunger among school children while responding effectively to their social needs for a better future.
The award was received by Chanchalapathi Dasa, vice-chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation on behalf of Madhu Pandit Dasa in the presence of Rashmi Ranjan Parida, the founder-chairperson of Odisha Diary Foundation and Debasish Samantaray, convenor of Living Legend Awards.
The National Living Legend Award was instituted this year to appreciate Odisha’s national connection and inspiring work that impacts both the state and country. An Odisha Diary initiative, Odisha Living Legend Awards are conferred on people of Odisha for their outstanding and inspiring work. These awards emphasise the need of bringing the best of the world and India to Odisha and take the best of Odisha to India and the world.