Padmashree awardee Binny Yanga no more

From our correspondent

Itagar, September 3: Padmashree awardee Binny Yanga died in a city hospital at Guwahati in neighbouring Assam today after prolonged illness, family sources said. 57-year-old Yanga died at 1.30 AM on Thursday at Hayat Hospital Guwahati. She left behind her husband, two sons, two daughters and six grand children.

Her body was brought from Guwahati to harlagun by road and the last rites would be performed here, sources said. Born on July 7, 1958 to Binni Jaipu, a former political assistant at Lower Subansiri district and Binni Yanya, known for her efforts for the revival of traditiol handlooms, Yanga did her education at Basthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan.

Popularly known as ‘Ama’ among the orphans, Yanga was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2007 and doctors gave her just six months, but not only did she lived beyond the deadline, she continued to work for the Oju Welfare Association (OWA), set up by herself, which hosts 338 orphans and destitutes. The Government of India conferred her with Padma Shri award in 2012 in recognition for her selfless service. She also received the prestigious Durgabai Deshmukh Award in 2000.

Yanga’s parents were also social activists, a fact which probably influenced her decision to take up social work since her student life.

She formed the All-Subansiri District Girls Welfare Association and raised her voice against social evils such as child marriage, forced marriage, dowry among others.

She joined the first batch of women cadre under the Aruchal police in 1987 and the experience gathered there, where she closely watched the plight of girls, motivated her to set up shelter homes for such victims.

In 1979, she initiated a small Adult Education and Nursery centre in harlagun and shelter home for girls and victims of child marriage, forced marriages and the destitute. This humble beginning filly grew up to become the OWA which she registered in 1988. Now the OWA runs many educatiol and charity services, including Shishu Greh (orphage) Crèche, maintaining 150 destitute children, Short Stay Home for 45 destitute women and girls, Working Women’s Hostel, Family Counselling Centre and Women’s Help Line. The OWA also runs educatiol institutions for 100 poor boys and needy tribal girls at low literacy pocket of Seppa, providing free education, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Jang, Tawang for 100 girls, Secondary school affiliated to CBSE at harlagun for poor and dropouts and Vocatiol Training Centre with various trades.

Apart from these two organisations, mely State Resource Centre Aruchal Pradesh and Jan Shikshan Sangsthan, harlagun, sponsored by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, are also functioning under the aegis of OWA. She is also the founder of the Himgiri Multi-purpose Co-operative Society, the objective of which is to cater to the needs of rural artisans and provide marketing facilities for their products.

Yanga was also nomited as a member of the Steering Committee on Voluntary Sector, Planning Commission, besides being associated with various other bodies like the executive committee member of the tiol Literacy Mission Authority, Ministry Human Resource Development. She is also a member of the Aruchal Pradesh State Commission for Women and Country Women Association of India.