Newsinc24 Team 
Former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and actors Chiranjeevi and Vyjayantimala Bali have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the nation's second-highest civilian award, the Centre announced on Thursday.Bindeshwar Pathak (posthumous) and Padma Subrahmanyam are the others named for the Padma Vibhushan. Apart from Pathak, known for bringing in the revolutionary Sulabh public toilet system, all the Padma Vibhushan awardees are from southern states.
India's first woman elephant mahout Parbati Baruah famous as "Hasti Kanya", tribal environmentalist Chami Murmu, social worker Sangthankima who runs Mizoram's largest orphanage and plastic surgeon Prema Dhanraj who treats burn victims are among 34 "unsung heroes" awarded Padma Shri on Thursday.
The list, issued on the eve of 75th Republic Day, also has organic farmer from South Andaman K Chellammal, international Mallakhamb coach Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, renowned microbiologist who pioneered development of India's inaugural Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program Yazdi Maneksha Italia, Longpi potter Machihan Sasa from Ukhrul who dedicated five decades to preserve this ancient Manipuri traditional pottery that traces its roots back to the Neolithic period (10,000 BC).
The coveted civilian honour also went to Gaddam Sammaiah theatre artiste Chindu Yakshaganam (from Jangaon) performing this art form for over five decades in over 19,000 shows, Bhilwara's Behrupiya artiste Jankilal, third generation Burra Veena player from Damaragidda village in Narayanpet Dasari Kondappa, brass Marori craftsperson Babu Ram Yadav and Chhau mask maker Nepal Chandra Sutradhar.
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