Some of India’s most remarkable public service is carried out far from the spotlight. For over four decades, Gita Karmakar dedicated her career to delivering healthcare across the tea gardens and remote villages of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, helping improve access to maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and preventive health services. On May 12, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Award 2026 upon her at Rashtrapati Bhavan on International Nurses Day.
Selected as one of 15 nursing professionals nationwide by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karmakar’s recognition came only months after her retirement and shortly after the personal loss of her mother, making the honour both a professional milestone and an emotional moment in a life devoted to public service.
A Childhood That Shaped a Life of Service
Gita Karmakar grew up in a financially struggling family in Jalpaiguri. Her father, Joychandra Karmakar, earned a livelihood as a fish seller but passed away after a prolonged illness when she was studying in Class VII. The loss brought significant hardship to the family, yet Karmakar continued her education and chose nursing as a profession through which she could serve others.
After completing her nursing training, she joined the West Bengal Health Department as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in 1983. She was initially attached to Belakoba Rural Hospital before being transferred within days to Danguajhar Tea Garden, where access to healthcare was limited and awareness about institutional medical care remained low. During her early years there, the area did not have a permanent health facility, prompting her to conduct health clinics from local marketplace verandas so that villagers could still receive essential healthcare.
The Nurse Who Became ‘Polio Didimoni’
Over the next several decades, Karmakar became a familiar presence across tea estates and nearby villages. For much of her career, she travelled 12 to 14 kilometres each day, largely by bicycle, to reach pregnant women, children and elderly residents living in remote communities. Her consistent work during immunisation campaigns earned her the affectionate local nickname “Polio Didimoni.”
Her responsibilities extended beyond routine nursing care. She conducted antenatal and postnatal check-ups, promoted institutional deliveries, supported child immunisation, monitored nutrition, managed vaccine cold-chain operations in her service area and participated in awareness programmes on tuberculosis, thalassaemia, reproductive health and other public health issues. According to published reports, she also helped facilitate around 100 institutional deliveries each year, contributing to greater acceptance of safer childbirth practices in the communities she served.
Choosing Service Despite Personal Setbacks
In 2008, Karmakar’s routine fieldwork was disrupted by a road accident that left her with a severe leg fracture. Between 2008 and 2015, she underwent nine surgeries, resulting in a 40% permanent physical disability. Although cycling became difficult after the accident, she did not step away from her responsibilities. Instead, she reportedly hired a cycle-rickshaw at her own expense, spending around ₹200 a day so she could continue visiting patients and carrying out fieldwork across rural areas.
Her commitment to community healthcare remained unchanged. After decades of serving as a frontline ANM, she was promoted as Health Supervisor at Belakoba Rural Hospital in January 2021. In this role, she supervised 33 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) working across four health centres while continuing to support maternal and child health programmes and other public health initiatives. She retired from government service on January 31, 2026, concluding a career that spanned more than four decades.
Recognition at the End of a Remarkable Journey
Shortly before her retirement, the West Bengal Health Department nominated Karmakar for the National Florence Nightingale Award 2026, one of India’s highest honours for nursing professionals. The recognition acknowledged her long-standing contribution to grassroots healthcare and community service.
The announcement came during an emotionally difficult period in her life. According to published reports, Karmakar received the official notification of her selection, but her mother passed away the following day. Around three weeks later, she travelled to New Delhi to attend the award ceremony.
On May 12, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu presented her with the National Florence Nightingale Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the International Nurses Day celebrations. She was one of only 15 nursing professionals selected from across the country by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Health officials in Jalpaiguri described her as a dedicated and compassionate healthcare worker whose discipline, meticulous documentation and commitment to patients earned widespread respect throughout her career. They also noted that her recognition reflects the invaluable contribution made by frontline nurses and community health workers serving remote parts of the country.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Gita Karmakar’s journey reminds us that meaningful social change is often built through quiet, consistent acts of service rather than extraordinary moments. Her story is not only about receiving a national honour but also about the resilience required to continue serving despite poverty, personal loss and physical disability. It also highlights the indispensable role played by ANMs, ASHA workers and nurses in ensuring healthcare reaches India’s last mile. As the country continues to strengthen its public health system, recognising and supporting these frontline workers is essential to building healthier and more equitable communities. Who are the unsung public servants in your community whose everyday work deserves greater recognition?
