Social workers from Odisha

Madhusudan Das (Odia: ମଧୁସୂଦନ ଦାସ; 28 April 1848 – 4 February 1934) was an Indian lawyer and a social reformer, who founded Utkal Sammilani in 1903 to campaign for the unification of Orissa state along with the social and industrial development in the state. He was also the first graduate and advocate of Odisha. Born in the village of Satyabhamapur, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Cuttack, Odisha. He is also known as Kulabruddha (Grand Old Man), Madhu Babu (ମଧୁ ବାବୁ), and Utkala Gouraba (ଉତ୍କଳ ଗୌରବ or Pride of Utkal). He was one of the main person, helping in the creation of Orissa Province (Present-day Odisha, India), which was established on April 01, 1936. In Odisha, his birthday is celebrated as the Lawyers' Day on April 28.

Achyuta Samanta (born 20 January 1965) is the founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT); Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), which provides free accommodation, food, healthcare, and education from class 1 to post-graduation with vocational training; KIIT International School (KIS), an International Baccalaureate affiliated school, and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), a medical college.

Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928), popularly known as Utkalamani (Jewel of Utkal or Odisha), was a social worker, reformer, political activist, journalist, poet and essayist.

Malati Devi Choudhury (née Sen) (26 July,1904– 15 March,1998) was an Indian civil rights and freedom activist and Gandhian. She born in 1904 in an upper middle class Brahmo family. She was the daughter of Barrister Kumud Nath Sen, whom she had lost when she was only two and a half years old, and Snehalata Sen, who brought her up.

Dr. Laxminarayan Sahu (3 October 1890 – 18 January 1963) was an eminent and noted writer, poet, journalist, social worker, reformer, historian, politician from Odisha, India.

Ramadevi Choudhury(Odia: ରମାଦେବୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ) (3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985), also known as Rama Devi, was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer. She was called Maa (Mother) by the people of Odisha.

Giridharilal Kedia (Hindi: गिरिधारिलाला केदिया Odia: ଗିରିଧାରିଲାଲ କେଡ଼ିଆ) (25 August 1936 – 19 December 2009) was an Indian well known social entrepreneur. He served the Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack for 12 years as the Working President and Trustee. Kedia was also the founder and chairman of Image Institute of Technology & Management. He was awarded the Samaj Gaurav award for his service. He was also awarded the Theater Movement Award by Global Peace Organization. Kedia was a District Governor of Lions Club International for the years 1981-1982 for the undivided district 322C.

Tulasi Munda (born 15 July 1947) is a social activist from the Indian state of Odisha. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 by Government of India for her contribution to spreading literacy among the impoverished adivasi peoples of Odisha. Munda started an informal school in 1964 in Odisha's iron ore mining area to educate children from local adivasi populations, who would otherwise have ended up as child labour in the mines. She had been a child labourer in the mines of Keonjhar herself.

Shanti Devi (18 April 1934 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian social worker born in 1934 in Balasore district of Indian state of Odisha. She was awarded the Padma Shri award on 9 November 2021 by the President, Ram Nath Kovind at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-IV, at Rashtrapati Bhavan for her social works and efforts to bring peace in the Maoist-affected Rayagada region of Odisha. Devi received the Radhanath Rath Peace Award and was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1994.

Manasi Pradhan (born 4 October 1962) is an Indian women's rights activist and author. She is the founder of Honour for Women National Campaign, a nationwide movement to end violence against women in India. In 2014, she was conferred with Rani Laskhmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar by the President of India. Along with Mary Prema Pierick, global head of the Missionaries of Charity, she won the 'Outstanding Women Award' in 2011.