Maharashtra Bhushan award

In news– Spiritual leader and social reformer Appasaheb Dharmadhikari received the Maharashtra Bhushan award, the highest civilian of the state.

The Maharashtra Bhushan is a highest civilian award presented annually by the Government of Maharashtra State in India.
When the Shivsena- BJP alliance came to power in 1995, it proposed to institute this award. The Maharashtra Bhushan was first awarded in 1996.
It was initially conferred in every years in the fields of Literature, Art, Sport, and Science. Later the fields of Social Work, Journalism, and Public Administration and Health Services were included.
The award is presented for outstanding achievement in their field.
At present, the award carries a cash prize of ₹ 25 lakhs, a memento and citation.
The winners are selected by a committee appointed of the Government of Maharashtra.

Who is Appasaheb Dharmadhikari?

Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, also known as Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, is an Indian social worker from Maharashtra.
Following footsteps of Dr. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari, Appasaheb has been instrumental in conducting various tree plantations, blood donation camps, free medical camps, job fairs, cleanliness drives, superstition eradication, de-addiction centers, etc in Maharashtra.
In 2014, he was conferred with Doctor of Letters by Dr D Y Patil University, Nerul.
In 2017, he was awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, and Maharashtra Bhushan award for year 2022.