Champa Raspeda, a young student from Malkangiri district, Odisha, has made history by becoming the first member of the Didayi tribe to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2025. Her achievement has secured her admission to Fakir Mohan Medical College & Hospital, Balasore, marking a moment of immense pride for her community, which belongs to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha.
Early Life and Education
Champa is the daughter of Lachmu Raspeda, a marginal farmer from Amlibeda village under Nakamamudi Panchayat, Korukonda block, and her mother is a homemaker. Despite financial struggles, Champa displayed remarkable determination to continue her education. She began her schooling at the PVTG Girls’ Education Complex in Nandiniguda, under the SC & ST Development Department, which laid the foundation for her academic journey.
Later, she studied at SSD Girls’ High School, Chitrakonda, completing her matriculation in 2019. She passed her Class 12 Science from SSD Higher Secondary School, Govindpally, in 2021. Financial difficulties forced her to discontinue her BSc studies, but with the encouragement of her former science teacher, Utkala Keshari Dash, Champa joined free NEET coaching classes in Balasore, reigniting her dream of becoming a doctor.
Government and Community Support
The Odisha government praised Champa’s accomplishment, highlighting the progress of tribal students in medical education in recent years. Several students from the state have cleared NEET and secured MBBS seats in government medical colleges, reflecting the growing emphasis on educational opportunities for tribal communities.
The Didayi tribe, one of 13 PVTGs in Odisha, primarily resides in remote forested regions of Malkangiri district, including Kudumulugumma and Khairput blocks. Traditionally dependent on shifting cultivation, forest produce, and small-scale farming, access to higher education has remained a challenge. Champa’s success represents a major breakthrough, symbolizing empowerment and social transformation for her community.
Leaders Celebrate the Achievement
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his admiration on social media, stating, “Her hard work, strong determination and success will inspire all youths of Odisha. I hope that in the future she will serve the poor and backward people as a good doctor. I wish her a bright future.”
Her accomplishment is being celebrated across the state as a milestone in tribal education and empowerment. For the Didayi tribe, Champa’s success is more than a personal achievement—it is a symbol of hope and progress, breaking longstanding barriers in access to higher education and professional careers.
Champa Raspeda’s journey demonstrates the power of resilience, government support, and community encouragement. It highlights how tribal students from Odisha can overcome socio-economic challenges to achieve excellence in fields like medicine, inspiring future generations to pursue higher education and professional success.
