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award winners
President Draupadi Murmu, odisha

President Draupadi Murmu's culture is inspired by the Santhal tribes of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. She made history by becoming the first tribal woman President of India. It marks the sublime travel, the honest resilience, and even the rejection of public service that would inspire millions in the entire country.

The political career of President Draupadi Murmu started in 1997, when she was elected to be a Councillor at Rairangpur town of Odisha and soon became the Vice-Chairperson. From 2000 to 2004, she served in the Odisha state assembly from Transport, Commerce, Fisheries, and Animal Resources types of portfolios, winning the ''Nilakantha Award'' for Best MLA award in 2007.

In May 2015, Draupadi became the first woman and tribal head to hold the office of Governor of Jharkhand. It was a milestone in the journey; for it showed that she was doing her bit to strengthen the efforts of bringing those under the margins into the mainstream and, at the same time, spearheading the role of women leaders in the country.

President Draupadi Murmu was an Honorary Assistant Professor at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research, Rairangpur, before her foray into politics and then became Junior Assistant in Odisha Irrigation Department. Setting up such a high standard early on in academic dedication set a basis for future roles in governance and leadership. President Draupadi Murmu has been a vigorous champion of tribal rights and social justice using her leadership for the upliftment of indigenous communities. The progress from educator to President of India reflects her deep commitment to serving the society and empowering underprivileged sections to inspire many others to work towards change with impact.