For many years, the popular web series Panchayat has comically depicted the socio-economic realities of many Indian villages, where the Pradhan-Pati, the elected Lady Pradhan’s husband, is in charge while she serves as a figurehead. However, this tale has a different conclusion in the far-off Sundarbans.

The self-made Pradhan of Maipith Baikunthapur Gram Panchayat, Jyotsna Halder, has defied convention and become a genuine grassroots leader. In honor of the UN-proclaimed International Day of Care and Support, she received the India Child Care Champion Award 2025 from Mobile Creches and FORCES (Forum for Creche and Child Care Services) at the India Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi.

Halder’s groundbreaking efforts to prevent child drowning in the Sundarbans, where 25 people drown every day, half of them children, earned her the title of best at the national level in the Public Representative category.

Maipith Baikunthapur oversaw the start of a community-based initiative to prevent child drowning. Two Kavach (Armour) Centers were set up in Maipith and Bhubaneswari Gram Panchayats with technical assistance from CINI (Child in Need Institute).

These crèches that save lives have trained 76 kids in early learning, resuscitation, and survival swimming and reported no kid fatalities or injuries throughout the previous 12 months.

WHO India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have acknowledged the approach as one that “should be scaled across the country”. Additionally, Halder made sure that the approach was included in the first-ever Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) in India.

Priyanka Dutta