Islander chosen for coveted Padma Award

Courtesy pic: http://www.tnaionline.org/july-10/4.htm
Source: THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Jan. 26, 2011


Ms. Shanti Teresa Lakra, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife attached to Tribal Health Section of  Directorate of Health Services of A&N Administration has been conferred this year’s ‘Padma Shri’ given for distinguished service in any field.
Ms. Lakra was posted at Sub-center in Dugong Creek, which is a remote island in Little Andaman. Being the only medical staff, she performed all medical and health care services to Onge tribes in settlement colony as well as in the deep jungle which 
is the habitat of Onge tribes.

Talking exclusively to ‘The Daily Telegrams’ here this evening, Ms. Shanti was ecstatic on being conferred the award. She said, she joined the department as ANM in the year 2001 and since then she has served the primitive tribes of the islands particularly Jarawas and Onges. 
Narrating her experience with the tribal community, she said she has attended many complicated cases during the past several years. She has also learned the dialect of Onge and Jarawa tribes and this, she felt, helped in communicating with the people in a much better way.

When tsunami washed almost all parts of this islands, Shanti bravely performed her duties at Dugong Creek staying with Onges adjacent to jungle in an open tent for more than 2 years. She rendered all possible efforts to sustain life of the people, gave timely medical coverage and monitoring the situation meticulously.
She did her best efforts by walking through dense forest and crossing two rivers to reach to the temporary settlement after tsunami to obtain the supplies and medicines.
It is worth mentioning that Ms. Shanti recently received the Florence Nightangle Award for the year 2010.