Who Won the 2023 Padma Shree Awards for Public Affairs?

Padma Shri is one of the highest civilian awards in India, awarded by the President of India. The award is given in various fields such as art, literature, education, trade and industry, science, sports, medicine, social service, and public affairs.

The Padma Shri award for Public Affairs is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of public service and social welfare. This could include improving access to healthcare, reducing poverty and inequality, promoting education and literacy, and advocating for human rights and social justice. Recipients of the Padma Shri in the Public Affairs category are recognized for their selfless dedication and tireless efforts in serving the people and making a difference in their communities.

• Shri Narendra Chandra Debbarma (Posthumous)

Narendra Chandra Debbarma, an Indian politician who served as the director of All India Radio in Agartala and the president of the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura, was born on August 28, 1942, and died on January 1, 2023. He was a Tripura native.

In the 2018 Tripura Legislative Assembly election, Debbarma joined forces with the BJP and secured 8 of the nine seats or 7.5% of the total votes cast. In 2023, he received a Padma Shri. 

• Shri Thounaojam Chaoba Singh

Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, a former Indian Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party state president from Manipur, was born on May 24, 1937, in Utlou, Bishnupur district. In 2023, he received a Padma Shri.