6 Padma awards to Maharashtra today. Rajinikanth Devidas Shroff was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award.
New Delhi: The country’s highest civilian award, the Padma Awards, was distributed by President Ramnath Kovind today. Renowned entrepreneur Shri. Rajinikanth Devidas Shroff was awarded the Padma Bhushan while senior social activists Sindhutai Sapkal, Girish Prabhune and three other dignitaries were honoured with the Padma Shri award. 
The Padma Award Ceremony was held in two phases at the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ramnath Kovind distributed the Padma Awards for the year 2021. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other Union ministers were present on the occasion. The Padma Awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day.
Renowned Entrepreneur Rajinikanth Devidas Shroff for his outstanding contribution in the field of trade and industry. Shroff has been awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan. Mr Shroff is the Chairman of United Phosphorus, a reputed agricultural company. The company exports products to 130 countries around the world.
Awarding Padma Shri to five dignitaries from Maharashtra.
Namdev Kamble was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of literature and education. Mr Kamble has so far published 15 novels and a collection of short stories. He has conveyed the message of social unity through his writings. Mr Kamble also received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 for his novel Raghavvel.
Shri Parashuram Atmaram Gangavane has been awarded Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of art. Mr Parashuram is from the Thacker community in the Sindhudurg district. They are working to cultivate folk art, which is almost 500 years old. He has been honoured with the Padma Shri award today for his work in creating awareness and enlightenment in society through the medium of Chitrakathi. Parashuram Gangawane has set up a Thakar Art Museum called ‘Thakar Adivasi Kala Angan’ for the purpose of documenting and researching cartoons.
Mrs Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat, co-founder of ‘Shri Mahila Gruh Udyog Lijjat Papad’ was honoured with Padma Shri for her contribution in the field of trade and industry. In 1959, seven housewives started a home-based business with a capital of Rs. 80. Today, the banyan tree of this home industry has been created.
Senior social activist Sindhutai Sapkal was also honoured with the Padma Shri award for her outstanding contribution in the social field. She has been working as an orphan’s mother for the last four decades. That is why all her children affectionately call her ‘Mai’. Mrs Sapkal has a doctorate.
Shri Girish Prabhune has been working for the last several years to give self-awareness to the people of the nomadic society. Apart from this, Shri Prabhune is also working to cultivate traditional art in this society through the Gurukul tradition. In recognition of his social work, he was awarded the Padma Shri.
A total of 119 Padma awards were announced this year. A total of 119 awards have been distributed in two phases this morning and evening. This includes 7 Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushans and a total of 102 Padma Shri awards. The award-winning dignitaries include 29 women. 10 immigrants are Indians as well as dignitaries from other countries. In addition, 16 dignitaries have been posthumously awarded the Padma Award and one-third party has been awarded the prestigious award today.
