United News Of India
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29: Founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Achyuta Samanta has been honoured with the prestigious Silver Medal by the Czech Republic for his remarkable work in social service.
KIIT sources here Thursday said Czech Republic Minister for Industry and Trade J Mládek conferred the civilian award on Samanta in the presence of Vladimír Bärtl, Deputy Minister of Czech and M. Stašek, Ambassador of Czech Republic to India at a function organised at the Czech embassy in New Delhi Wednesday.
More than 300 dignitaries from both countries were present at the function. “It is a matter of pride for Orissa and its people that a person from the state has been conferred this prestigious civilian award from a European country,” said Oriya personalities who visited the function.
Samanta said he was indebted to the Government of Czech Republic and its citizens for the honour and dedicated the prestigious award to KISS. Eminent danseuse Sujata Mohapatra performed Odissi dance at the function.
