Ms. Rita Chhetri has received First "Tirtha-Timila Medal (2024)" on the auspicious of the 6^th AGM of Botanical Society of Nepal (BSON). Botanical Society of Nepal (BSON) had announced the "Tirtha-Timila Medal" in the honor of Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha and his wife Dr. Timila Shrestha on 12^th August 2023 on the special occasion of seventh anniversary of BSON. "Tirtha-Timila Medal" is established to encourage young botanists by recognizing his/her contributions in plant research, publications and public communication. According to the criteria in the "Tirtha-Timila Medal guideline-2081" following committee recommended the medal for 2024. The executive committee meeting held on 6^th June 2024 decided to honour the medal to Ms. Rita Chhetri.

Ms. Rita Chhetri is a plant taxonomist with a prominent record on plant exploration, documentation, publication, development and utilization of the plant resources of Nepal. She is currently working as a Research Officer in National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories, Godavari (KATH). She did her Master's degree in botany with specialization in Plant systematics from the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University.