Overview
- Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya presented the inaugural Governor Assam Awards for Excellence at Raj Bhavan in Guwahati on July 30 with Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Speaker Biswajit Daimary among attendees.
- Bapan Das received the science, engineering, medicine and environment award for his antibiotic-free poultry venture Graduate Farmer and Dr. Amar Upadhyaya was honored for social work and public affairs initiatives including plantation drives and digital literacy campaigns.
- Each award comprises a citation, medallion, ₹1 lakh cheque plus traditional Assamese gamosa, seleng sador and japi to blend modern achievement with cultural heritage.
- Other honorees included the late Dr. Nagen Thakur for literature, curator Umananda Dowerah for arts and culture, trainer Abhinash Hazarika for industry and commerce, and footballer Debashish Roy in sports.
- Launched on September 17, 2024 to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, the awards support Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s broader agenda to institutionalize recognition of local talent across six sectors.