BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

TOPNO, MISS FRIDA :

B.A., B.Ed.; I.N.C.(Orissa); d. of late Rev. John Topno and late Shrimati Martha Topno, b. at Village Rungaon, District Sundargarh, Orissa, September 20, 1925; ed. at (i) Women's College, Cuttack, Orissa and (ii) Radhanath Training

College, Cuttack, Orissa; Unmarried.

Social and Political Worker; started career as a District Welfare Officer (Gazetted) in Government of Orissa in 1950; retired as Deputy Director-cum-Deputy

Secretary, Tribal and Harijan Welfare Department, Government of Orissa in 1983; established `Priyadarshini Mahila Mahavidyalaya' at Jalda, Rourkela; President, Birsa Munda Statue Committee (a Tribal Cultural Organisation), Rourkela; instituted `Birsa Munda Award' and working for Tribal Cultural Centre at Rourkela; Member, (i) Orissa Legislative Assembly, 1985-90, (ii) Tenth Lok Sabha, 1991, (iii) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Steel, 1991-95, (iv) Estimates Committee, 1995-96, (v) Eleventh Lok Sabha, 1996, (vi) Committee on Labour and Welfare and (vii) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Coal; Minister of State (i) Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Orissa, 1985-86, and (ii) Education, Youth Services and Sports, Orissa, 1986-90; as a Member of Parliamentary Delegation, attended the `World Women Conference' held in Beijing, 1996; elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1998.

Travels abroad: U.K., U.S.A.as a Member of Christian Endeavour Delegation from India,1982, West Germany and China.

Publications : Published souvenirs `Birsa Munda', `Dharti Abba', `Shradhanjali', `Abua Raj' and `Ulgulan' on Birsa Munda, a great freedom fighter.

Special interest: Preservation and promotion of tribal culture, women's education, welfare of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Favourite pastime and recreation: Reading religious books and journals.

Permanent address : (i) At/ P.O. Rungaon, P.S.Bargaon, District Sundargarh, Orissa and (ii) Qr. No. G/40, Sector-2, Rourkela, District Sundargarh, Orissa.