Eminent Odia poet Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda has been conferred with Gangadhar Meher National Award for Poetry for the year 2010 on Monday for his outstanding contribution in the field of national poetry at Burla, Odisha.He was given a cash award of Rs.50,000/-, a shawl, and citation by the Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University, Prof. Bishnu Charan Barik on 45th foundation Day Celebration of Sambalpur University.The award has been instituted by Sambalpur University as mark of tribute to the legendary Oriya poet Gangadhar Meher in the year 1992.Dr. Panda has been widely acclaimed as one of the finest Indian poets and felicitated with many honours and prizes.Prominent among these are: National Award for contribution to Odia literature by Sahitya Akademy, Literary Award of Bharatiya Bhasha Parisha, Kolkata, Padmacharan Patnaik Poetry Award, Utkal University .