Bhubaneswar: Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) has once again brought pride to the state by nurturing a bright talent whose success story is an inspiration to many. Leeza Majhi, daughter of Lalit Mohan Majhi, a small farmer, and Padmini Majhi, a homemaker, of Uchkapat under Bamra block in Sambalpur district, has successfully cleared NEET-2025 and secured admission to the MBBS programme at Government Medical College & Hospital, Sundargarh. Leeza, belonging to Kisan (ST) community, joined KGBV Bamra-IV in 2021 and stayed at the hostel when she was studying in Class IX and X.
The safe, supportive, and empowering environment of the residential school laid the foundation for her academic growth and future aspirations. After completing her matriculation from Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (OAV), Bamra in 2022–23 with an impressive 82 per cent, she was selected to pursue Plus II Science at OAV (Iconic) Bhubaneswar, where she secured 81.6 per cent. Her perseverance and dedication bore fruit in 2025 when she qualified the NEET and fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor. Speaking about her journey, Leeza expressed gratitude to KGBV for providing free residential education, mentoring, and holistic support that helped shape her academic path. KGBVs, an initiative of the Union government, are special residential schools established to provide quality education to underprivileged and out-of-school adolescent girls from disadvantaged communities.
Odisha has been at the forefront of this mission, and the inspiring stories of KGBV alumnae like Leeza stand as proof of its transformative impact. School authorities expressed immense pride, stating, “Leeza’s success is not just an individual triumph, but a symbol of hope for countless girls across rural Odisha. Her journey from KGBV to the medical college shows that education is the most powerful tool of empowerment.” This achievement marks yet another milestone for KGBV and is expected to inspire many more girls from marginalised communities to dream big and pursue their ambitions.
