Dr. Budhri Tati: A Life of Service in Bastar’s Heartland
In the dense forests and rugged terrain of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, where conflict and deprivation have long shadowed everyday life, one extraordinary woman’s work has brought hope, dignity, and upliftment to countless people. Dr. Budhri Tati, affectionately known as “Badi Didi” (Big Sister), has been selected for the Padma Shri 2026, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of her lifelong dedication to grassroots social work in some of the country’s toughest regions.
Roots and Early Calling
Budhri Tati hails from Hiranar village in Dantewada district of South Bastar, a region deeply affected by Naxalite insurgency and historically marked by limited state outreach and infrastructural deficits. Despite these challenges, Tati chose to dedicate her life to serving her community — especially tribal women, girls, and the elderly — from a remarkably young age.
In a region with scarce educational facilities and few opportunities, access to learning was often a dream rather than a reality for many children. Tati firmly believed that education is the cornerstone of empowerment, and she committed herself to making that belief a reality for tribal communities long isolated by geography and conflict.
Walking the Villages: Building Trust on the Ground
One of the most striking aspects of Budhri Tati’s work was her willingness to walk to remote villages — often on foot — to reach communities that were cut off from mainstream services. In the early stages of her social service mission, Tati reportedly traversed hundreds of villages, building trust with families who had never seen an outsider engaged in grassroots outreach.
Her presence was not that of an outsider imposing solutions; rather, it was built on trust, compassion, and a shared sense of community identity. In areas where fear and suspicion were widespread due to decades of conflict, Tati’s consistent and compassionate presence became a bridge between tribal communities and public welfare goals.
Education and Empowerment: A Lifelong Mission
At the heart of Tati’s work has been the promotion of education, particularly for girls, in a society where gender inequality and early marriage have historically limited opportunities for girls. Understanding that education lays the foundation for long-term change, Tati worked tirelessly to ensure that children — especially girls — could attend school, learn, and dream beyond the constraints of their environment.
Her outreach extended to forming literacy circles, informal learning groups, and awareness campaigns that encouraged families to send their daughters to school. Over the decades, her efforts contributed to bringing education to hundreds of tribal girls, opening up new possibilities for future generations.
Women’s Economic Independence
Beyond formal education, Budhri Tati focused heavily on empowering women economically. Recognizing that financial independence was critical for women to gain confidence and agency, she initiated skills training and self-help groups that enabled hundreds of women to learn vocational skills — especially tailoring, craft work, and cooperative ventures.
These initiatives had a transformative effect: tribal women who previously depended solely on subsistence activities began earning incomes, gaining economic independence, and contributing actively to household and community well-being. This shift helped reduce gender disparities and fostered a sense of dignity and purpose among participants.
Holistic Social Outreach
Budhri Tati’s work was never limited to a single issue; it was holistic in its approach, addressing interconnected challenges that tribal communities faced. In addition to education and economic empowerment, she also focused on:
- Health awareness campaigns to improve maternal and child health outcomes in a region with limited medical facilities.
- Cleanliness and sanitation awareness, particularly where basic services were lacking.
- Environmental protection initiatives, recognising that ecological wellbeing and community health are deeply linked.
Her multipronged efforts helped build resilient communities better equipped to tackle socioeconomic challenges with confidence and collective effort.
Recognition and the Padma Shri Honour
The Government of India announced Tati’s selection for the Padma Shri award in 2026 in the field of social work, acknowledging her decades-long commitment to women’s empowerment, tribal upliftment, and grassroots community development in Bastar.
This honour is especially meaningful because it celebrates not a famous celebrity or national figure, but a local leader whose real impact was measured in lives changed, trust built, and communities uplifted. In her own words, Tati expressed that the award is not just hers — it belongs to the entire tribal community she has served.
Legacy of Service and Inspiration
Budhri Tati’s story is powerful not just because of her accolades, but because of how she achieved them: through persistent, compassionate work often far from the spotlight. Her life highlights the essential truth that lasting change often begins at the grassroots, with leaders who understand the lived realities of their communities.
In regions that have experienced conflict, poverty, and neglect, Tati’s work has been a beacon of hope — inspiring others to take up social causes, to believe in the potential of education, and to work cooperatively for community development.
Her example encourages future generations — especially young women from similarly challenged backgrounds — to pursue roles as educators, community leaders, and catalysts for change. Her legacy is not just in awards or recognition, but in the multitude of lives she has touched and uplifted through unwavering service.
Comments are closed.