[2] 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.

She attended the college for two years and at the age of 17, she was married to Ratan Das, a doctor and follower of Gandhian ideology.

Devi worked for the education and the betterment of tribal girls and destitute women.

[7] She established an ashram at Gobarapalli in Rayagada district[8] and Seva Samaj at Gunupur in Odisha in 1964.

[9] She is known for her efforts to establish peace in the Maoist-affected districts of Odisha[2][10] and for her work in Sankhalapadar village where the disease of Yaws was endemic.