#54 Transforming urban slum communities

Dr Martin studied her BMBS at Delhi University’s Maulana Azad Medical College, specialising in pediatrics at Lady Hardinge. Responding to a cholera outbreak in a Delhi slum in 1988, she began treating residents and saw the need not only for quality healthcare but also to address education, empowerment, income generation and better supporting infrastructure. This gave birth 32 years ago to the Community Health and Development NGO that has transformed lives of hundreds of thousands slum residents.

Around 700,000 people in 91 slum colonies of Delhi now benefit from the work of Asha, which means ‘hope’. Dr Martin’s achievements were recognized by the Indian Government when she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards. Asha’s work has been praised and replicated by organizations in many countries. Dr. Kiran is the nerve center of Asha, envisions the strategic roadmap and provides key management input in all aspects of Asha’s endeavors.