Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda conferred the award to Rath at a special function organised by Odisha Sahitya Akademi last evening.
The award carries a citation and cash prize of Rs one lakh, official sources said.
Rath, also a former chief secretary of Odisha, was selected for the award for his life time contribution to Odia literature, they said.
The Akademi also felicitated 15 other litterateurs of the state at the programme.
Rath's book of poetry Sriradha is considered as a modern classic. Poems like Kete Dinara, Aneka Kothari, Sandigdha Mrigaya, Saptama Ritu and Sachitra Andhara are considered as his best works.
Source: Business-standard
