Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asks Delhiites to suggest names for Padma awards

NEW DELHI: Delhi government will only recommend the names of doctors and healthcare personnel for Padma awards this year “as a mark of gratitude to honour their service and sacrifice” during the pandemic.
This was announced by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, while asking Delhiites to suggest names for the awards.
The government has released an email address — padmaawards.delhi@gmail.com — for submitting the suggestions.
People can send in their recommendations by August 15 with a description of why they think the person named deserves the honour. The names would be checked by a “Search and Screening Committee” headed by deputy CM Manish Sisodia to decide the final list of nominations. Recently, Kejriwal had written to PM Narendra Modi seeking Bharat Ratna for doctors and healthcare workers.
“This decision has been taken to honour the service and sacrifice of the medical community during the Covid-19 crisis. We have asked the people of Delhi for the nominations as they are the ones who actually know the most about the dedication and hard work of our doctors,” the CM said, while thanking doctors and healthcare workers for relentlessly giving everything they could to save lives during one of the biggest crises seen by humanity.
Every year, the country honours a select few with Bharat Ratna and Padma awards. The central government gives these awards to people who have showcased excellent work in their field. For all three Padma awards, the Centre asks people to nominate figures who they think deserve the honour. State governments are also asked to nominate such personalities.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Kejriwal said, “During the pandemic, doctors, healthcare workers and paramedical staff helped save a lot of lives. They served humanity with impeccable commitment. I know many doctors and healthcare workers who did not go home for days. I also know many doctors and healthcare workers who got infected while tending to patients and were, unfortunately, martyred on duty.”
“The entire humanity is indebted to such doctors. No matter how much we thank them, it won’t suffice for their sacrifice. Delhi government is the only government in the country that gave a Samman Rashi of Rs 1 crore to frontline workers who were martyred on duty,” added the CM.