The Modi government has identified "unrecognised" and "unsung heroes" and honoured them with the prestigious Padma awards for this year, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday.
Speaking after felicitating Padma award winners from Telangana at Swarna Bharat Trust (SBT), Hyderabad chapter, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi selected "unsung heroes" from rural areas who are doing selfless service to the society in their respective fields and awarded them.
"Recognising the 'unrecognised' and 'unsung heroes'...that is the speciality of this year's list of Padma awardees," the Information and Broadcasting Minister said.
Venkaiah was joined by Union Minister for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy at the event. Rudy also said it is for the first time in the country's history that talent from 'Bharat' has been identified and honoured with Padma awards, which was "earlier restricted to Delhi".