NEW DELHI, Mar 22: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday conferred the Padma Awards for the year 2023, including three Padma Vibhushan, four Padma Bhushan and 47 Padma Shri Awards, including the one on former Arunachal Pradesh minister Karma Wangchu posthumously, at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Present on the occasion were Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other dignitaries.
The President conferred the Padma Shri award on Karma Wangchu (posthumous) in the field of social work.
Born on September 27, 1936 at Seru village in Tawang district, late Karma Wangchu was elected to the State Legislative Assembly from Tawang constituency for four successive terms in 1978, 1980, 1985 and 1990.
Besides being a Pro-Tem Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, late Wangchu served as Minister for Health, Transport and Co-operation in the Tomo Riba Government.
In his long political career, owing to the love of his people, he has not lost any elections. He gracefully retired from active politics in 1994.
He worked for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in the border area of the state and provided free education alongwith residential facilities to more than 1250 children, mostly orphans, destitute and kids belonging to very poor family backgrounds in border villages like Mago, Thingbu and Zemithang, for which he was conferred Padma Shri Award posthumously, this year.
A recipient of certificate and cash award for distinguished and meritorious service during the 1962 Indo-China war, late Wangchu started his career in Assam Border Police (NEFA Police) during 1959-60 before serving the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) as a Junior Intelligence Officer-II during 1960-76.
He passed away on October 20, 2022 at the age of 86.