KISHTWAR, Sep 26: Long before she assumed charge as Principal of the Government Paramedic Institution, Jammu, Dr. Daisy Parihar was widely known in Kishtwar for quietly standing by those whom society often overlooks. Whether tending to abandoned elderly patients, supporting children deprived of education, or helping families struggling to make ends meet, Dr. Parihar has made service a way of life—guided by compassion, empathy and an unshakable belief in human dignity.
A Kishtwar native, Dr. Parihar received her early schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kishtwar and entered the healthcare profession with Government Hospital Kishtwar in 2002. Yet those who know her say her instinct to serve stretches back to childhood. As a young girl she would spend hours at old-age homes and orphanages, simply being present for people who had been left behind. Those quiet acts of kindness, they say, foreshadowed a lifetime of public service.
Her husband, Dr. Sanjay Parihar, recalls a telling moment from the first days of their marriage. “The day after we were married, Daisy insisted we visit an orphanage,” he says. “I thought she wanted to go to a temple, but she led me to the children instead. One child had a fever and wouldn’t stop crying; Daisy held him, comforted him, and he fell asleep. That’s when I realised serving others isn’t occasional for her—it’s who she is.”
Over the years Dr. Parihar’s compassion has translated into concrete action. She has intervened to arrange medical treatment for elderly people who had been abandoned, coordinated eye-care services, and ensured vulnerable individuals received essential supplies. As a government doctor she also extended educational support to girls from economically weaker households and provided targeted help to families in dire financial need. In one notable case, she took personal responsibility for the schooling of a young girl who had lost her father—driven by the conviction that education is a pathway to dignity and independence.
Her professional roles have seen her tackle public-health challenges across the region. As District Immunization Officer in Kishtwar she worked to strengthen immunization coverage in some of the district’s most remote and difficult-to-reach areas. Later, as Block Medical Officer, she continued to prioritise healthcare delivery for rural communities. Even during her stints at Government Medical College Jammu, patients and attendants remember her readiness to assist—arranging blood supplies, guiding families through emergencies, and connecting those in need with available healthcare resources.
Dr. Parihar’s service transcends social and religious divides. She treats every person with equal regard, guided by the belief that public welfare must be inclusive. This ethos is reflected in Sehyogdhara – Mission Education and Health for All, an initiative she leads to extend educational and medical support to underprivileged communities. Through Sehyogdhara nearly 145 underprivileged children now receive sustained educational assistance, and the Shri Chander Kant Sharma Ji Memorial Scholarship Programme—launched under her patronage—supports deserving students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds.
Her concern for the welfare of future generations extends to the environment. An active participant in plantation drives and environmental-awareness campaigns, Dr. Parihar has personally planted over 2,000 trees. She connects environmental protection with social responsibility, arguing that safeguarding mountains, forests and water sources is integral to community well-being.
A woman of many talents, Dr. Parihar is also a writer, poet and artist. She has authored more than 200 poems and written articles on social and environmental issues that have appeared in newspapers across Jammu and Kashmir. Her creative work amplifies the same themes that shape her public life—humanity, nature and the quiet courage of ordinary people.
Recognising the healthcare challenges faced by communities in high-altitude and remote areas, she has been active in promoting telemedicine solutions that bring medical consultations closer to those who would otherwise need to travel long distances. Her efforts reflect a practical commitment to making healthcare accessible and affordable.
For Dr. Parihar, service and patriotism are inseparable. “When honesty flows through your actions, patriotism naturally flows in your blood,” she says. To her, true patriotism is shown not in rhetoric but in integrity, compassion and sustained work for fellow citizens.
Today, as Principal of the Government Paramedic Institution, Jammu, Dr. Daisy Parihar continues to weave together her roles as a healthcare professional, administrator, educator, environmentalist and social worker. Her life demonstrates a simple yet powerful truth: small acts of kindness can change lives, and dedicated service—whether in hospitals, classrooms, mountain villages, orphanages or old-age homes—remains one of the most meaningful ways to honor humanity.