Malkangiri: In a heartwarming gesture, Malkangiri District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay personally visited the home of Champa Raspeda, who is set to become the first doctor from the primitive Didai tribe. The visit, held at her residence in Ambalibeda village under Korakunda Block, turned into a moment of pride and celebration for the entire community.
Collector Upadhyay congratulated Champa on her remarkable achievement, calling it a matter of great honor not only for her family but also for Malkangiri district and the entire Didai tribal community. He encouraged her to pursue specialization in medicine and serve her people with dedication. “Champa’s success will inspire countless tribal students and youth across the district,” he said.
During the interaction, the Collector inquired about her educational journey, including her school, college, and NEET preparation, acknowledging the challenges she had faced. Learning that she struggled with mobile connectivity during her studies, he gifted her an Android mobile phone, along with a bouquet, shawl, clothing, and ₹30,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support her medical education and purchase costly textbooks.
The Collector’s presence filled the villagers with joy, and he assured them of addressing the region’s pressing needs. He directed officials to expedite works on drinking water supply, road connectivity, electricity, and housing for Ambalibeda village. He also encouraged locals to take advantage of the area’s potential for cashew cultivation, suggesting the establishment of a cashew processing unit under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) to generate local employment.
The visit also included grievance redressal sessions for residents of Ambalibeda and Bayapada, during which instructions were issued to expand housing benefits for tribal families and to install dug wells for reliable drinking water.
The event was attended by ITDA Project Administrator Haladhar Sabar, District Social Welfare Officer Srinivas Acharya, District Information and Public Relations Officer Pramila Majhi, BDO of Korakunda Amulya Sahu, Project Director of Didai Development Agency, and other departmental officials.
Visibly moved, Champa expressed her gratitude, reiterating her dream: “My goal is to become a doctor and serve my own people and region.”
