Odisha government today announced enhancement of the prize money for the state's highest literary award "Atibadi Jagannth Das" Samman from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The award given by Odisha Sahitya Academy to an Odia language litterateur for lifetime contribution to Odia literature. This was announced by state Culture and Tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda in the state Assembly.
Odisha Sahitya Academy is presently giving award on nine different categories, Panda said adding each prize amount is raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.
Atabadi Jagannth Das award is the most respectable honour to any litterateur by the Academy and the award is named after 15th century Oriya poet Atibadi Jagannath Das who was also known as Atibadi (greatest).
Panda said the Academy's tri-monthly magazine would now be published every month.
