Khaira: Bijaylaxmi Tudu, an assistant executive engineer in Khaira block of Balasore, has crossed many hurdles in life before achieving success. She gave credit for her success to her parents.
For a girl from the tribal community, venturing out of the house was problematic. The economic condition of her family was weak. Manual labour was the only source of livelihood for her family. Her parents had toiled hard to pay for her education and always comforted Bijaylaxmi not to lose courage to go ahead in life.
“All that I have become is because of the blessings of my parents and God,” she observed.
Bijaylaxmi was born in Bhuyangoda in Mayurbhanj district. She completed schooling in the village primary school and passed HSC from Bodasahi High School. However, many in the village did not like educating girls.
Her parents prioritised educating Bijaylaxmi (the eldest kid) in a residential school. When her parents sought admission for her at a residential school, the school refused, citing that she had passed in 3rd grade in Class VII.
However, finally she was admitted to the school after earnest pleadings by her father Budham Tudu. At that time, the economic condition of her family worsened to such an extent that her elder brother had to stop his studies.
Through hard work, Bijaylaxmi passed HSC with 75 per cent. She believed in the adage if there is a will there is a way.
She heard of KIIS and KIIT which have been offering free education to tribal children. She went there and got admission in engineering and got a degree in engineering.
She got appointment as a lecturer in a polytechnic in her own district. But Bijaylaxmi was dreaming of civil service and prepared for OPSC. After her success in OPSC she was appointed as assistant executive engineer in the water resources department.
Because of her expertise, she was sent on a deputation in the Panchayatiraj department. Then she was transferred to Khaira block in August 2016. She has so much workload that she has to work even on holidays.
“I like to prepare food myself. I will keep trying to make my parents happy as their hard work helped me reach this position,” she said.
PNN
