The start of success in any significant endeavour begins with a small effort. On this day, the daughters of labourers in Chhattisgarh have given meaning to this statement. Alka, the daughter of a labourer mother, who wields a hammer and chisel, is making history as she is all set to become a doctor.

This is the story of Alka Markam, the daughter of Kalabai Markam, who is a labourer hailing from the village Bagodar in Kanker district. Kalabai works as a daily wage labourer, while her husband is an agricultural worker.

Their daughter Alka completed her education in the village itself and then cleared the NEET exam. She is pursuing an MBBS degree from the Late Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College in Jagdalpur and is currently in her fourth year of studies.

Kalabai happily shares that her daughter has received the benefit of the 'Medhavi Chhatr-Chhatra Shiksha Protsahan Yojana' (Meritorious Student Education Promotion Scheme) operated under Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

Alka was also honoured at the Labour Conference held on May 1 in the state capital Raipur. Kalabai thanked Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel for launching schemes for the welfare of labourers, which are helping to fulfil the dreams of lakhs of the youth of the state.

Building a Brighter Future: How financial assistance helped Pushplata achieve her dreams

Chetan Ram Sahu, a resident of the village of Dokla in the Charama tehsil of the Kanker district, works as a labourer and undertakes masonry work to support his family. He said that his daughter, Pushplata, displayed exceptional academic talent from a young age.

She received her early education in their village and walked long distances to reach Bhorritola to attend 11th and 12th-grade classes. After completing her schooling, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree.

Although the family was concerned about funding her higher education, Pushplata was able to get the benefit of the departmental schemes with her father being registered under the Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

With financial assistance from the Labour Department, she completed her nursing education. Today, Pushplata is employed as a Community Health Officer at the Charbhatha Health and Wellness Center in Charama.

Pushplata was recently honoured at a Labour Conference held in the state capital on Labour Day. Pushplata's family expressed their appreciation to Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel for the labour welfare schemes he initiated.