Binapani Naik, 30, is a resident of Uchatangar in Keonjhar district. She belongs to the Santali community and got married immediately after her matriculation. Initially, Binapani used to attend various training programme organized by CYSD-Plan in her village. However, with time she chose to specialize on health issues and started attending training and orientation programmes on health thoroughly. Soon she was selected as a Community Development Worker in her village. Binapani’s popularity gradually started rising due to her unconditional drive to save the ones in need.

She had gone extra miles to assist 500 critical cases to be referred to health institution and 18 critical pregnant women to give birth to healthy babies. “Every day after my household chores, I visit the families in my village and ensure timely assistance to them.” Having realized the importance of birth registration, Binapani motivated the mothers and processed 15 birth registrations in Karanjia Municipality from Uchantanagar village during 2010-11. She has been burning the candles at both the end to convince people from her village to register the birth of the newborns, go for institutional delivery and to complete immunization course. Today, 119 mothers from her community have adopted safe delivery methods and institutional delivery. All the children of her adopted five villages are fully immunized.

“Capacity building programmes organized by CYSD-Plan in the form of exposure visit to health institutions in Karanjia, Baripada and interaction with the doctors and other health professionals motivated me and sharpen my skills as a Community Development Worker (CDW)” acknowledged Binapani, the shimmering community leader of Uchatangar village.