Eminent Poet Ramakanta Rath was conferred with Odisha's highest literary award Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman for 2018. It was given to him by Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda at an event organized by Odisha Sahitya Akademi. The award carries a citation and cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. He was given the award for his life time contribution to Odia literature.