Bikash Dandasena

Rakhi, the winner of Junior Judo Championship at state level – Silver Medal in 2015 and Gold Medal in 2017 is aspiring to be in Civil Service. She is one of the luckiest girls in her village who could showcase her talent in state level forums. She loves dancing, singing and marshal art too.

Rakhi Baka, is a Bhumia tribal girl of 16 years, lives in Chalanguda village of Mathili Block in Malkanagiri district. From her childhood she has lost her father. Her family includes her mother, elder sister and brother. Her mother being a daily labourer manages the four- member family with much difficulty. However, her elder sister is now supplementing her mother’s income working either in construction sites or collecting Sal leafs.

Chalanguda being the intervention village of CYSD,  Rakhi was enrolled as sponsored child when she was studying in Std. V. As one of the talented students, she was selected by the district administration to study in a better school with hostel facility. She was admitted in Sishu Mandir at Malkangiri and stayed in Anwesha Govt. Hostel. This year, she has completed her High School Certificate examination successfully securing 54% marks and with the support of her cousin pursuing +2 Science.Meanwhile, she has got an opportunity to learn advance level marshal art and aiming to take part in National Junior Judo Championship-2019 and win the Gold medal.

CYSD has made effort to promote Adolescent Group in Chalanguda village where Rakhi  is an active member. She has received different trainings on ARSH, WASH organized by the organization and could become a peer educator and imparting orientation to her friends on the subject. She was nominated to participate in “Odisha Vikash Conclave-2018 held in Bhubaneswar and gave a stimulating speech on issues of children of her district.  “The intervention of CYSD in my village has created a platform for each girl child to ensure equal participation in different activities”, says Rakhi.

Though talented, Rakhi has bit sympathy for others. She likes to utilize her leisure time in providing teaching to low performer children.  With the initiative of CYSD, she was engaged impart teaching to 32 children of Std. I to Std. X during last summer vacation in her village primary school building.  While teaching, she tries to explore the hidden talents of those children.  Normally, all students study in residential Ashram Schools and come to village during summer and winter vacations.

“My family is struggling to overcome the financial crisis due to lack of livelihood opportunity. My brother who is doing his last year B.Sc. can get a good job in coming year and hopefully, our financial crisis will come to an end. My elder sister is determined not to get marry now and continue supporting my mother’s income until we complete our education”, shared Rakhi with emotional tearful eyes.Mathili is one of the most interior tribal pockets of Malkanagiri where development is still a dream.Despite all the bottlenecks, Rakhi has never stopped dreaming. “After graduation or so, I want to join Civil service and work hard to improve the standard of living of people below poverty line and develop quality education for children of my district” says Rakhi.