Bhubaneswar: Overcoming years of financial hardship, a poverty-stricken tribal family from Odisha’s Kandhamal district has displayed rare perseverance and sent five of its children on a journey to become doctors.
In a remarkable achievement, three sisters — Sunemi (20), Meenakshi (19), and Ashriya (18) — recently cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and secured admission to government-run medical colleges in Puri, Balangir, and Bhawanipatna. They join their elder sibling Bibhisan Naik (25), who is completing his internship at Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College in Koraput, and cousin Monalisa Pradhan (23), now in her second year of MBBS at the same institution.
Given their family background, the siblings’ achievement is extraordinary given their circumstances. The sole breadwinner, Brushi Naiak (76), works as a migrant labourer while also cultivating a small plot of land in Sikabadi village, nestled in the hilly Daringbadi area. His wife Anusaya (62) has stood by him through decades of struggle, raising nine children in a household where hunger was not uncommon.
Education, however, was never compromised. The children completed their schooling in Daringbadi and later pursued intermediate studies in Nayagarh. Bibhisan, the trailblazer, not only financed his own education by tutoring local children but also took a loan of ₹6 lakh to support his siblings. He mentored Monalisa and later guided his younger sisters, ensuring they too could clear NEET.
“We have seen our parents’ struggle. They are our inspiration. We have learnt from them the meaning of simple living and high thinking. We have gone hungry at times, but always strived for excellence in our studies,” said Meenakshi, who was raised by her uncle Brushi and aunt Anusaya but is considered their daughter in every sense.
The success story of the siblings has become a beacon of hope in Kandhamal, showing how determination, sacrifice, and education can break the cycle of poverty. With two younger sons still in school, the Naiak household continues to dream big — proving that even in the remotest corners of Odisha, resilience can pave the way to success.
