By Nishan Pattanaik
KORAPUT: Padmashri awardee Kamala Pujari passed away due to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, the hospital officials informed on Saturday.
Initially admitted to the district headquarters hospital at Jeypore in the Koraput district on Tuesday for fever and old-age ailments, Pujari was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital on Thursday as her condition deteriorated.
Acclaimed for her contributions to organic farming and conservation of native paddy varieties, Kamala Pujari was admitted to SCB two days back again due to health-related issues. Hospital sources said she died due to cardiac arrest.
The tribal lady from Koraput is known for her pioneering work in organic agriculture. For this reason, she was awarded the Padma Shri.
Kamala Pujari’s dedication to agriculture and her efforts in preserving indigenous crop varieties have left a lasting legacy. Her passing marks the end of an era for the agricultural community in Odisha.
Pujari brought laurels for the State by winning the ‘Equator Initiative Award’ in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pujari was not keeping well and had earlier undergone treatment at SCB multiple times in the past. She was suffering from kidney-related ailments.
A four-member team was engaged for the treatment of Pujari. Sources said that she had undergone dialysis recently. She was not consuming food and suffered a cardiac arrest early today.
Expressing condolences over Pujari’s demise, Koraput Collector Keerthi Vasan V stated that Pujari’s family members had been informed and necessary arrangements for the funeral would be made according to the family’s wishes and state government directives.
