NewKerala.com

Dr Armida Fernandes Honoured with Padma Shri for 50 Years of Medical Service

Dr Armida Fernandes has been conferred the Padma Shri for her distinguished five-decade service in medicine, notably with Sion Hospital and in Mumbai's slums. The 2026 Padma awards list includes 131 recipients across various fields, with five Padma Vibhushan honours. Posthumous Padma Vibhushan awards were bestowed upon Bollywood icon Dharmendra and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. The list highlights diverse contributions, with 90 awardees being women.

Key Points: Padma Shri for Dr Armida Fernandes, Dharmendra, VS Achuthanandan

  • Dr Armida Fernandes awarded Padma Shri for Medicine
  • She dedicated 50 years to public health in Mumbai
  • 131 Padma awards approved by President Murmu
  • Dharmendra, VS Achuthanandan get posthumous Padma Vibhushan
  • 90 of the 2026 awardees are women
2 min read

"Blessed with very good teams:" Armida Fernandes conferred Padma Shri Award in Medicine

Dr Armida Fernandes receives Padma Shri for medicine. Padma awards list includes Dharmendra, VS Achuthanandan (posthumous), and 131 total honorees.

"I am very honoured to get this award. I worked for 50 years at BMC with Sion Hospital, in the slums of Mumbai, and now in Palliative Care. - Dr Armida Fernandes"

Mumbai, January 26

The Centre announced that Dr Armida Fernandes was being conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2026 for her distinguished contributions to the field of Medicine.

Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award of the country.

Speaking to ANI, Fernandes expressed her happiness and praised her team at the NGO Sneha (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action) for their contribution, noting that the achievement was a result of collective efforts.

"I am very honoured to get this award. I worked for 50 years at BMC with Sion Hospital, in the slums of Mumbai, and now in Palliative Care. I'm blessed with very good teams from Sion, from my NGO SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action), and from Palliative. Everybody worked together," said Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Kailash Chandra Pant, who was selected for the Padma Shri award in Literature and Education, said that the honour was a matter of pride not only for him but also for everyone working in those fields.

"This honour received in the fields of literature and education is not only a matter of great pride for me, but also for all those who are working in the field of education and those who are deeply involved in literature. As far as my literary work is concerned, it is mainly based on critical essays, and I have also written some independent works... In the field of education, I received the Nehru Literacy Award in Delhi from the hands of then President Abdul Kalam," Pant told ANI.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards, including two duo cases counted as single awards, and Bollywood actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan as recipients of the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards, recognising distinguished service across a wide range of fields. 90 awardees are wome,n and the list includes 6 persons from the categories of foreigners, NRI, PIO, and OCI, and 16 posthumous awardees, according to a government statement.

The Padma Vibhushan awardees include actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) for Art from Maharashtra; former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas for Public Affairs from Kerala; violin maestro N Rajam for Art from Uttar Pradesh; eminent Malyalam journalist P Narayanan for Literature and Education from Kerala; as well as veteran left leader and former Kerala CM Achuthanandan (posthumous) for Public Affairs.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Heartwarming to see the Padma awards recognizing such genuine grassroots work. Dr. Armida and her team at SNEHA have done phenomenal work for maternal and child health in Mumbai's toughest areas. This award is well-deserved.
A
Aman W
While it's great to honor such individuals, I sometimes feel the process could be more transparent. How are nominees chosen? Are we sure the most deserving from every corner of India are being considered? Just a thought.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has volunteered in public health, the work Dr. Fernandes describes is incredibly challenging. Palliative care especially is a critical need in India that doesn't get enough attention. Kudos to her and her entire team!
K
Karthik V
Good to see 90 awardees are women this year! That's progress. Dr. Armida Fernandes, N Rajam the violin maestro, so many talented women being recognized. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in action 💪
V
Varun X
Dharmendra ji getting Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) is also a proud moment. He brought joy to millions. But the real heroes are often these quiet workers like Dr. Fernandes. Salute to her dedication. Jai Hind!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50