Padma Shri Dr Kiran Martin, founder and director of Asha

Dr Kiran Martin trained as a doctor in Delhi and graduated from the Lady Hardinge Medical College in 1985 with a postgraduate diploma in Paediatrics. Shortly after this, she began working voluntarily to contain a cholera outbreak in the Dr Ambedkar Basti slum in the south of the city.

Originally working single-handedly at a borrowed table outside the slum, Dr Martin went on to create a community health and development society that has transformed the lives of over 300 thousand slum dwellers in Delhi.

Two early projects demonstrate the strengths of Asha's approach. The slums of Ekta Vihar and Shanti Vihar made history by being the first slum areas to be transformed onsite. By forging relationships with both the slum community and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Dr Martin changed the areas beyond recognition. Originally swampy, filthy and overcrowded slums inhabited by the extremely socially and economically disadvantaged, these areas now have paved streets, access to clean drinking water, toilets and efficient drainage systems. Equally importantly, the inhabitants have a sense of dignity and their own self-worth.

Asha has replicated and further developed the strategies used for these projects and now works in 46 slums around Delhi. Such successes have provoked interest from many and varied organisations and individuals around the world. Dr Martin's presence and opinion is sought regularly at conferences and by members of the media both nationally and internationally.

The year 2001 saw the publication of "Urban Health and Development", a book co-authored by Dr Martin in collaboration with two well-known public health doctors. In 2002 the President of India presented Dr Martin with the Padma Shri - India's second highest civilian award - in recognition of her remarkable achievements in the field of social work.

Dr Martin lives in Delhi a short distance away from Asha's headquarters with her husband and two children who are also involved with Asha's work.

Dr Martin receiving the Padma Shri award in 2002

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