Sasmita is an 18-year-old and the daughter of Budhu Naik, a native of Subalaya in Berhampur block, Odisha. She has one elder sister (Sarita) and two brothers – the elder one is Radhakant, who works as a driver for Sainik school’s van. The younger brother, Loknath, is also a tractor driver in the same village and has a half-acre cultivated land that produces paddy once in a year that depends upon rains.
Her elder sister Sarita Naik was diagnosed with leprosy in the year 2010 and was put immediately on 6 months of Multi-Drug Therapy was (MDT). Sarita studied till 12th grade and was later married in 2017. She is currently staying at Athamallik village of Angul district, Odisha.
Loknath (younger brother) discontinued his education after 10th grade as the parents were not financially stable and then Loknath decided to support his family by working as a driver. Both the parents used to go everyday for agriculture work depending on the season and earn INR 350 per day as a daily wage. With this daily income, it was quite challenging for them to run the family and the paddy produced from their agriculture land was not sufficient to feed them for the entire year.
While Sasmita was studying graduation final year at Subalaya Anchalik College in Subalaya, Odisha, she was infected and diagnosed with leprosy in 2016. She had no visible disability, but she was mentally depressed during the diagnosis & complete treatment process. The Block Nodal Leprosy Workers (BNLW) & LEPRA team counselled her and her parents about the disease and treatment. Early detection of leprosy helped her finish the treatment successfully and was released from the treatment regime in 2017. During the diagnosis and treatment follow-ups, LEPRA team identified the need for Sasmita’s educational support based on her family background and accordingly supported her since 2016. Without this educational support, it would have been very difficult for her to continue education and might have discontinued.
Sasmita has been provided with necessary education scholarship support right from her 12th grade and she was able to complete her graduation with the support received. Before receiving the support, she did not believe that it would be possible to pursue higher education. She is very thankful to LEPRA for the timely support and helping her continue education.
Considering Sasmita’s good educational background, her family were able to find a suitable match to get her married. Even Sasmita’s future husband was also supportive for further education or any employment. Sasmita happily agreed to get married and currently she is staying in Boudh district, Odisha looking forward to the finalisation of her Anganwadi (rural child care centre) teacher post.
Uninterrupted education made Sasmita achieve and lead a comfortable life.