Profile of the Six Awardees – 2012
Function held on 3rd July, 2012 at D. B. M. S. Auditorium
Ms. RINKI MARDI - (Category - I) Physically Challenged.
Sponsored by Mrs. Dilith Castleton - Tata Steel Rural Development Society.
Rinki Mardi is 31 years of age. She is from Mahudiha village, Potka and has been disabled since childhood, as both her legs were defective. She lives alone with her mother. Initially she faced lot of hardship. After joining the self help group of T.S.R.D.S., she started doing bamboo work, makes small tokries and sells them. They have meagre income and even though they are very poor, they do not wish to beg from anyone.
Ms. HIRAMUNI MURMU (Category - II) Woman Entrepreneur.
Sponsored by Dr. H. K. Gardin, Sneh Kendra, Jamshedpur.
Hiramuni Murmu is 27 years of age and is from Mangru village, Potka. She is a widow. When she lost her husband 3 years ago to fatal disease, she joined the Sneh Kendra and got trained as a peer educator. She also got vocational training in food processing and Jwellery making which has helped her to earn extra money. Her greatest mission is to work in and around her village and educate the people about the life threatening and non-curable disease aids.
Ms. GANGA BAI - (Category - III) : Outstanding Sports Woman.
Sponsored by School of Hope, Jamshedpur.
Ganga Bai, despite her speech and hearing impairment has made a name for herself in the field of Sports. She has represented the country by participating in the special Olympics held in Greece in 2011 in the sport badminton. She won a Gold medal in Badminton in doubles (female), Silver Medal in the Badminton Singles and a Silver Medal in the Badminton - Mixed Doubles. She is very creative and paints diyas, encourages recycling by making paper packets and also makes hand embroidered handkerchiefs.
Punam Murmu - (Category - IV) - Student Category.
Sponsored by Dr. P. C. Mahapatra, Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation.
Punam Murmu is 17 years of age. Punam studies in Std. X. She is from Murkum, Gamharia. She lost her parents when she was 3 years old and was looked after by her maternal uncle. She is fond of teaching, Cooking, Music and Dance and has won several prizes in Nukkad Natak competitions. She has started a coaching centre for the underprivileged children at her village. She is a good motivator and has leadership quality.
Bednibala Mahato - (Category - V) - Social Worker.
Sponsored by Mrs. Dilith Castleton, Tata Steel Rural Development Society.
Bednibala Mahato is from Pagda Village, Patamda. She has helped in the formation of 100 self-help groups. She has helped to insure 250 women with LIC Policy. She has helped 12 girls of her village to avail of the Lakshmi Ladli Yojana. She has helped children suffering from heart ailment to get treatment at Brahmanand hospital. She does awareness programme on family planning and helps pregnant woman to get referrals to hospital.
Purnima Mahato - Category - V (Social Worker)
Sponsored by Mrs. Dilith Castleton, Tata Steel Rural Development Society.
Purnima Mahato is a resident of Jalla village, Patamda. She got married at an early age and was unable to complete her studies. She however passed the Matric Exam. along with her elder son. She has got training in Catering and helps to prepare the Mid-Day meal for School Children. She is associated with a clinic and so helps in the immunization of the children, delivery cases etc. She has formed self help group in her village and has motivated all the women of her village to join the group.