Jumde Yomgam Gamlin

When Jumde Yomgam Gamlin saw her own son struggle with addiction, she decided to fight drugs in her community. In 2025 she was named for the Padma Shri in the field of social work, from Arunachal Pradesh ^[1].

Working for two rupees a day

Gamlin was born on 1 February 1965 in Akker Yomgam village in West Siang district ^[2]. Her father died when she was young, and she worked as a daily labourer for two rupees a day to pay for her schooling ^[2].

In 1980 she joined the state government as a gram sevika, a village-level worker, and retired 35 years later as a child development project officer ^[2]. Throughout, she helped women earn their own money through self-help groups making candles, chalk, embroidery and other goods ^[2].

Taking on drugs

From 2011 she campaigned against drug addiction in villages in Upper Siang district ^[2]. With the district administration, village heads and self-help groups, she helped destroy cannabis and opium plants being grown in the area ^[2].

She founded the NGO Mother’s Vision, which runs awareness campaigns, counselling and support for people in recovery, and escorts young people to rehabilitation centres ^[2]. Its members built a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre for 30 people entirely with their own contributions ^[2]. The group has since extended its work to people with HIV, TB patients and other vulnerable groups ^[2].