The Purulia district administration will felicitate two young women from the district’s marginalised Sabar community on Republic Day for acquiring their bachelor’s degrees in the face of overwhelming socio-economic odds.

The Sabar community is considered one of the most socio-economically backward tribes in the state, and Purulia, a small western district, has a population of over 12,000 Sabar people in 164 hamlets.

Ramanita Sabar, 22, and Ratnabali 20, are the two newly minted graduates.

The all-time total of college graduates from their community, including them, is four.

Right now, Ramanita is pursuing her master's degree in history from the Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University in Purulia. Ratnabali, on the other hand, is now seeking admission to a master’s degree in education at a local college.

Officials said the duo were also taking part in several awareness drives among children of their community.

by visiting several hamlets and participating in government camps to help Sabar children get the documents required to pursue higher education.

“These two girls are actively taking part in camps or programmes. They are going to the hamlets to help people get their documents and other government benefits. They are also trying to educate children from their community. So, we have decided to felicitate them on Republic Day on Wednesday,” said Rahul Majumdar, the Purulia district magistrate.

The two young women said that because of their own experiences, they understood the need for education among children of their community and tribal communities elsewhere.

“I hold small meetings with villagers of several hamlets in my area and try to make them understand that education is the first step for development. It is an imperative to send children to school first,” said Ratnabali, a resident of Latpada village of Purulia’s Barabazar, who is now the president of the Paschim Banga Kheriya Sabar Kalyan Samity, an organisation that has been working for years for the community.

Ramanita said that people from her community lacked basic documents like ration, Aadhaar or voter identity cards.

“We met government officials and asked for their help so that our community members get these documents. The officials have held several camps to reach out to people in our community regarding such documents,” said Ramanita.

On Tuesday, 29 camps were organised by the Barabazar block administration at 29 Sabar hamlets.

Ramanita and Ratnabali inaugurated the camps in Barabazar where local block development officer Masud Raihan and Purulia district magistrate Majumdar were also present.

“These two girls (Ramanita and Ratnabali) have become an inspiration for other Sabar families here. They are helping the administration a lot in reaching out to people of the community,” said BDO Raihan.

Prashanta Rakshit, the director of the Paschim Banga Kheriya Sabar Kalyan Samity, echoed the BDO.

“We are trying our best to help out the two Sabar girls for their higher education. It is really overwhelming to see the two girls reaching out on their own to others in need,” Rakshit added.