Bhubaneswar: From selling bangles on the dusty lanes of Binika in Balangir to stepping into the grandeur of Rashtrapati Bhawan, the journey of Surekha Mallick is a story of grit, resilience and hope.
Life tested her early. With her husband bedridden for years due to a rare respiratory illness, Mallick bore the twin responsibilities of caregiver and breadwinner. In a small kaccha house, she struggled to raise her children with dignity, surviving on the modest earnings from selling bangles.
A new chapter began in 2019, when she received support under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). The assistance allowed her to build a modest two-room pucca house — one room to care for her husband and another as a safe space for her children. Though she lost her husband earlier this year, the house today stands as her family’s pillar of strength and security.
Her remarkable journey drew national recognition when the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) selected her to represent Odisha. Accompanied by her son Alok, she travelled to New Delhi to attend the 79th Independence Day celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhawan. She was among the honoured guests at the At Home Reception hosted by the President of India on August 15, 2025.
An emotional Mallick shared her gratitude: “This honour is not mine alone. It belongs to every family that has found dignity through owning a home. I thank the Prime Minister for PMAY (Urban), which has given us not just shelter, but hope.”
Odisha’s Housing & Urban Development Minister, Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, praised her story as a shining example of how policy transforms lives: “Surekha Mallick’s journey shows how a house can become a home of dignity and dreams. Her presence at Rashtrapati Bhawan is a matter of pride for Odisha and a testament to the success of PMAY (Urban).”
From the narrow streets of Binika to the ceremonial lawns of Rashtrapati Bhawan, Mallick’s story is no longer just personal triumph — it is Odisha’s pride and India’s inspiration.
