Padma Awards I Photo credit: @PadmaAwards

New Delhi: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik's elder sister and renowned American writer Gita Mehta has declined to accept the Padma Shri that government conferred on her on the eve of Republic Day. In a statement, she said the timing of the award might be 'misconstrued' since Lok Sabha elections are looming.

"I am deeply honoured that the Government of India should think me worthy of a Padma Shri but with great regret I feel I must decline as there is a general election looming and the timing of the award might be misconstrued, causing embarrassment both to the Government and myself, which I would much regret," she said in the statement.

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Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards of the land. There are three categories of Padma awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The government has conferred nearly 112 Padma awards in 2019. These awards are usually conferred by the President in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April every year.

These awards are given for 'exceptional and distinguished service in various fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil

service, etc.

‘‘Padma Shri’ in particular is awarded for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

This year the 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards will be awarded out of 21 of the awardees are women.

Gita Mehta was conferred the Padma Shri in the 'Foreigners' category for her distinguished work in Art & Literature.