The morning of March 18 was quite momentous for 70-year-old Pramila Bisoi. This simple mausi (aunt) from the village of Chermaria village in Ganjam district of Odisha was nominated on that day as the BJD candidate from the Aska constituency, from where Naveen Patnaik himself started his political career.
Bisoi won from Aska by a margin of over 2 lakh votes against her nearest opponent, Anita Subhadarshini of the BJP.
At the age of five, Pramila was married to Banchanidi Bisoi, who retired as a fourth-class employee of the state irrigation department. They have two sons, two daughters and 17 grandchildren. Having only studied till Class 3, Pramila became popular as a representative for Mission Shakti, a self-help group for the women of Odisha.
Pramila started small-scale cultivation of her family land to support her family. Her first experience with public work started when she formed a group to protect the Padiki Hill near her village, by restoring its depleted forest cover. Due to the efforts of the group, the forest is now a famous peacock habitat.
Around two decades ago, Pramila formed the Satasankha Swayam Sebika Sangha self-help group with a view to make women self-reliant through savings, cottage industry and protection of environment.
Later, Pramila went on to found around 100 SHGs. Lovingly known as Pari Ma (fairy godmother), Pramila now heads around 3,500 women SHGs in Aska district.
In an interview with Down To Earth, an environmental journal, Pramila talked about her plans for her SHG work. When asked about the new challenges she expected to face as a representative of the people, Pramila remained firm about the continuation of her mission. “If I become an MP, the first thing I will take up is to establish cottage industries where more and more women could be engaged,” she said.
Education is also high on her list of priorities. According to Pramila, “Both boys and girls should be educated and skilled. To achieve that goal, there should be more training institutes that can produce skilled people to work in coir industries, toy making and other activities that are inherent to our area.”
She also praised Naveen Patnaik’s role in helping women in Odisha improve their lot. “All-round development, particularly of women, has been possible not only in Aska but also in the entire state due to the able leadership of Naveen babu, who has launched several welfare schemes and projects,” she said in an interview with The New Indian Express.
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In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJD stuck firm to its policy of fielding 33 per cent women candidates, and five of these seven candidates won in their constituencies. And the influence this move can have was summed up perfectly by Pramila herself.
“By choosing me, a simple woman with simple lifestyle and tastes, Naveen Patnaik has sent across a strong message—that anyone doing positive work will get a chance to do greater things. Women should be self-reliant in order to make a big difference in society,” she declared.