We have all heard the phrase 'the sky is the limit', but what about those who aim to conquer the sky? For them, it's their territory. A small girl from Odisha's Malkangiri district dreamt of ruling the sky. But, coming from a Maoist-hit tribal-dominated region it was a difficult task but not impossible. Anupriya Lakra, daughter of Mariniyas Lakra a police constable, quit engineering studies midway and joined the aviation academy in 2012 to fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot. It has finally come true, she is all set to join a private airline as a co-pilot. Not only that, she is the first tribal woman from Odisha's tribal-dominated district to become a pilot. Mariniyas Lakra, proud father of Anupriya said,
"We are very happy that her dream of becoming a pilot has now become a reality. She will be working as a co-pilot in a private airline.
It is a big achievement for somebody from a backward district like Malkangiri. Her success has come after seven years of hard work."
Anupriya was studying engineering in Bhunabeneshwar when she realized that it wasn't what she desired, her passion lied in something else. She left engineering and took admission to the Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI), Bhubaneshwar. Niranjan Bisi, the Tribal Leader and President of Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha beaming with pride said that Anupriya was not only the first tribal woman from Malkangiri but Odisha to fly a plane, for a district that is yet to see a railway line it is a proud and memorable moment. The Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik also took to social media to congratulate Anupriya for her achievement.
