Kiran Martin
Kiran Martin | |
---|---|
Born | 9 June 1959 |
Nationality | Indian |
Education | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Diploma in Child Health and Paedriatics |
Occupation(s) | Social worker, pediatrician, founder and director of Asha Society |
Spouse | Godfrey Martin |
Children | 2 |
Awards | Padma Shri |
Website | Personal blog |
Kiran Martin is an Indian pediatrician, social worker and the founder of Asha, a
Early life
Kiran Martin did her graduate studies in Medicine (MBBS) at the
Founding of Asha Society
Kiran Martin's career took a turn when Dr. Ambedkar Basti, one of the slums in South Delhi, endured a cholera epidemic, in 1988.[8] She volunteered to provide medical assistance to the slum dwellers and the experience is reported to have prompted her into social service.[7][10] In order to provide an organized service, she secured like-minded helpers and founded Asha Society, (Action for Securing Health for All) literally meaning Hope in Hindi,[8] a non governmental organization, the same year.[11][12]
Kiran Martin's Philosophy
Kiran Martin claims that she wanted to pursue a direction in life that gave her vision, values and inspiration.[13] Martin's values are an integral part of the Asha model and include the belief that all people, including the poor, have the same inherent dignity and rights that deserve protection. The Asha model directly challenges the pervasive system of caste and class that exists in Indian society and elsewhere and in particular seeks to redress the unequal treatment of females by empowering women to bring about change in their own communities.[3] Asha was founded with a strong desire for social justice by ensuring the equal distribution of goods, services and the opportunities and benefits of development.[13] Other values that Asha professes are compassion, gratitude, optimism, joy and simplicity. Led by Martin, these values have directed the approach and expansion of Asha's work over two decades and may explain the success that Asha has enjoyed.[13]
Growth and Expansion of Asha
Under the aegis of Asha,[14] Kiran Martin is reported to have started various programs such as medical aid, development of roads, sanitation and water supply facilities and basic and higher education.[10][12] The organization is known to be covering around 50 colonies[12] and 400,000 to 500,000 people.[9][10]
Soon after Martin began her health clinics, she began to organise women in the community into advocacy groups to tackle community problems.
Awards and recognition
The
Both state and national slum policies have been influenced by Asha's work, and Martin's assistance has recently been sought by Hon Mr
International Interest in Asha
Martin is associated with various philanthropic organizations in India and abroad for raising funds for her activities.
Numerous overseas visitors have visited Asha and accompanied Martin on slum visits where they saw firsthand the improvements in the health, empowerment and financial status of people in Asha project areas. These visitors have included the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr John Key,[22] Australia's Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard in 2012,[23] the Governor General of New Zealand, Mr Anand Satyanand,[24] the Governor of Victoria, Mr Alex Chernov,[25] the First Lady of Canada, Mrs Sharon Johnston, the First Lady of Japan, Mrs Miyuki Hatoyama, as well as Cabinet Ministers from Ireland, the UK, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Martin has attended many seminars and conferences and has addressed gatherings at the
Books
In 2001, a book entitled Urban Health & Development was published after being written by Martin in collaboration with Dr Beverly Booth and Dr Ted Lankester.[32] In addition, the work of Asha has been cited in publications, research and case studies by institutions such as the World Bank, Tearfund and others.
In 2013, the book A Journey of Hope was published to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Asha. It tells the story of Asha through the reflections of Dr Martin and the photographs of Ed Sewell.[33] It includes a foreword by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
See also
References
- ^ "ABC". ABC. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Opinion". Opinion. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "In Conversation with Asha founder Dr Kiran Martin". YouTube video. The Conversation. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "AFAS". AFAS. 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Ten20". Ten20. 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Padma Awards. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Willow Creek". Willow Creek. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d "India West". India West. 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Boston University". Boston University. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Rob Moodie (21 November 2013). "In Conversation". Article. The Conversation. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b "The Age". The Age. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Australia India Institute". Australia India Institute. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Asha: Hope and Transformation in the Slums of Delhi" (PDF). The Nossal Institute. September 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Asha". Asha. 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Facilitating Community& Government Participation to bring about Slum Transformation". UN Habitat. 2004. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Empowering Delhi's underprivileged with education". Business Standard. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "Padma Shri Awardees 2002". india.gov.in. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Chidambaram praises Asha Society's efforts towards slum dwellers". Business Standard. ANI. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ Dixit, Ashok (8 May 2014). "Chidambaram lauds NGO Asha's efforts to empower slum dwellers". The Siasat Daily. ANI. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Hon Minister Kapil Sibal to launch new programme with Australia India Institute, Asha and Nossal Institute for Global Health" (PDF). Australian High Commission, New Delhi. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "Rainey Endowed". Rainey Endowed. 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Asha slum children play cricket with New Zealand Prime Minister" (PDF). NDRF. Winter 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ Doherty, Ben (17 October 2012). "Gillard mends fences with next generation of leaders in India". The Sunday Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "NZ Joins Forces with India to Transform Slums". Scoop. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ Chernov, Alex (29 November 2012). "Launch Of Australian Friends Of Asha Slums". Governor of Victoria. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Dr Kiran Martin - Director Asha". Australia India Institute. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "Events in 2012". Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "BUSPH Public Health Forum: Urban Indian Slums Fertile for Change". Boston University School of Public Health. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Overview of Asha Event". Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Beyond Distinction, Beyond Difference - Transforming Lives in Delhi's Slum Communities". Queen's University Belfast. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Radio Newzealand". Radio Newzealand. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ISBN 9780333679340. Archived from the originalon 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ Francis, Josh (20 March 2013). "Lincoln photographers document Indian slums for charity's book". The Lincolnite. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
External links
- "In Conversation with Asha founder Dr Kiran Martin". YouTube video. The Conversation. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- "Inclusive Cities: Transforming the Lives of Delhi's Urban Poor". 2 October 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- "Making a Difference: Kiran Martin and Asha in the slums of Delhi". Up Close (The University of Melbourne). Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- "In conversation with Dr Kiran Martin; The Inspiration". Australia India Institute. 25 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- "Asia Profile: Dr Kiran Martin: empowering lives in Delhi's slums". ABC Radio. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- "Founder of social development project Asha, which operates in the slums of West Delhi". Radio New Zealand National. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- "Dr Kiran Martin, founder and director of the Indian NGO, ASHA". ABC. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2015.