Bhubaneswar, Odisha : In a historic achievement for Odisha’s tribal communities, Champa Raspeda, a girl from the Didayi Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Malkangiri, has cracked NEET 2025 and secured admission into Fakir Mohan Medical College & Hospital, Balasore.
Champa, hailing from Amlibeda village under Korukonda Block, is the first student from the Didayi tribe to achieve this milestone. Born to a marginal farmer father and homemaker mother, she overcame financial hardship but never gave up on her dream of becoming a doctor.
She began her schooling at the PVTG Girls Education Complex, Nandiniguda, completed matriculation at SSD Girls’ High School, Chitrakonda, and later passed +2 Science from SSD Higher Secondary School, Govindpally. Financial struggles forced her to discontinue her B.Sc. studies, yet her determination remained strong. With the guidance of her former teacher Sri Utkala Keshari Dash, she joined free NEET coaching classes in Balasore and worked tirelessly toward her goal.
Her success is a proud moment not just for her family but also for the Didayi tribe, one of the 13 PVTGs of Odisha. Traditionally residing in the remote forests of Malkangiri district, the Didayi community has long depended on shifting cultivation, forest gathering, and small-scale farming. For a young girl from such a background to enter the medical profession is a remarkable step toward education-driven empowerment and social transformation.
Odisha has recently witnessed a steady rise in tribal students qualifying for MBBS seats through NEET, reflecting the growing impact of educational initiatives in remote areas. Champa’s achievement adds a new chapter of inspiration.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha congratulated Champa on his X handle, describing her journey as “an inspiration for generations to come.”
