She leads a life of celibacy and is wedded to a unique career of dedicated social service. Inspired by her grandparents, who were veteran freedom fighters and followers of Mahatma Gandhi, Sandhyabati Pradhan is born at village Muninda adjacent to that historic village Beraboi relentlessly pursuing her service to humanity, for which she is endeared to the masses of Delanga and Pipili. She is postgraduate in Geology from the Utkal University. She has also obtained her MPhil and LLB degree from the Utkal University. She made her debut as an academician as a college Lecturer and subsequently became Principal of KISS, Bhubaneswar. Her family background prompted her to become active in social works and politics. She was elected as Puri Zilla Parishad Member in 2007 from Delanga block in the Pipili Assembly constituency and became Vice-President of the Zilla Parishad. She served the State Social Welfare Board as a Member from 2013 to 2015 and became a Member of the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) in 2015. She assumed the role of Chairperson of OSCPCR in 2018 and continues to discharge her responsibility. She is committed to an era of El Dorado towards a holistic development of children during her tenure with the strong support of “our popular Chief Minister who stands as a custodian to preserve, protect and defend the rights of every child of the State”. In an interview to The Pioneer, Pradhan spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many vital issues relating to child development.
What were your achievements as Puri ZP Vice-President?
I sanctioned 13 pipe drinking water supply projects, constructed toilet facilities in all schools, implemented community toilet programmes, constructed many PMGSY roads. I had sanctioned projects for stone-packing of Luna river embankment, de-siltation of the riverbed, culverts, check-dams. Bridges were constructed throughout Delanga and Pipili. Adequate steps were taken towards irrigation and water conversation in the area. As the head of the ZP’s Water Sanitation Standing Committee, we did hard work and our district was awarded first prize in water sanitation in the country. We constructed 17 community toilets in tourist places like Karamala Ashram, Dasia Bauri Peetha, Kakatpur Mangala Peetha, Dandamakundpur and Jayaguru Ashram. For the first time, we implemented job card-based MGNREGS in the districts. Under the MGNREGS, we started the Mo Gadia scheme in Puri district.
What are your achievements as Chairperson, OSCPCR?
The commission’s work is to monitor the mechanisms and processes to safeguard the rights of children in all fields. We are not a welfare programme-implementing body but a right protection quasi-judicial body. After I assumed charge, we have been combating against child marriage. We have held two national-level conferences in the State inviting commissions of all States and the NCPCR to evolve the best practices in strengthening child protection mechanism. We have developed a “Bhubaneswar Charter on Strengthening Child Protection Mechanism” which was submitted to the Central Government. We prepared a draft amendment rule on child marriage which was accepted by the State Government. Odisha has a low child marriage rate now, very lower than the national average. We have been recognised for our response to children-in-disaster situations and got the national champion award by the Save the Children NGO. We are working on the missing children and child sexual abuse issues. During Covid-19, we conducted two massive rapid assessment studies on education status of children as well as the status of street children in five major ULBs.
What are your social activities?
I have played a pivotal role in establishing many SHGs in Delanga block since 1985. As president of the KPP High School, Delanga, as a member of the famous Beraboi Gandhi Ashram, an advisor to Odisha Sankirtan Mahasangha, a patron of Artabandhu Memorial Rural Sports Meet, I am intricately involved in the social mosaic of the entire Pipili constituency. Our family is inspired by the legendary Biju Patnaik. My elder brother Sasanka Chudamani has also written a book on Bijubabu.
What’s your vision plans for Pipili?
Pipili is the place where Mahatma Gandhi had started his freedom struggle from Odisha. I want to see it as the Numero Uno constituency of the State if given an opportunity. This is the constituency where the 5T programme is being religiously practised. Pipili, which is near Puri, also witnesses grand refurbishing of monumental construction works by our popular CM Naveen Patnaik. I want to convert the area known for violence and mayhem, the ritual drama of dominance and death into a green land of peace, prosperity and plenty.
How do you think to contain the sexual assault on children?
We are very much concerned over this sensitive issue and are constantly making efforts to contain it by working on tandem with police and other law-enforcing agencies and other stakeholders. We have also issued a toll-free number to receive urgent complaints. We are taking steps to wipe out trauma from among the victim children through our counselling.
What are your plans to curb child labour?
We are leaving no stones unturned in this respect. Besides taking legal actions, we are also making use of hoardings, pamphlets and launching awareness programme throughout the State to eradicate this ugly and abominable child labour drudgery.
What’s your response to the Pari murder case?
I condemn such a dastardly act of murder of an innocent child. The offenders must be punished. Law will take its own course. If not, many more Paris will face similar fate. I have strong faith in law-enforcing agencies which will nab and punish the perpetrators of the crime.