Kerala's first tribal air hostess: Meet Gopika Govind, daughter of daily-wage labourers

Due to financial constraints, Gopika Govind initially pursued a BSc in Chemistry. (Image: X)

Gopika Govind, a 24-year-old woman from Kerala, has become the state’s first tribal air hostess. A resident of the ST colony in Kavunkudi near Alakkode, she belongs to the Karimbala tribal community. Her parents, P Govindan and VG Biji, are daily wage labourers. Govind grew up in a household facing financial challenges and limited access to resources but held on to her childhood ambition of becoming a flight attendant.

Due to financial constraints, Govind initially pursued a BSc in Chemistry, which was more affordable and accessible. A year after completing her degree, a newspaper image of cabin crew members in uniform reminded her of her early ambition. She then began searching for training opportunities in aviation.

Govind discovered a government-supported course for tribal students and enrolled in a one-year diploma programme at Dream Sky Aviation Training Academy in Kalpetta, Wayanad. Under a scheme supporting tribal students, Rs 1 lakh of her course fees was covered, allowing her to proceed without a financial burden.

She started applying for cabin crew positions before completing her training. Although she was not selected in her first interview, she succeeded on her second attempt. After three months of training, she joined Air India Express and boarded her first flight as a cabin crew member from Kannur to a Gulf destination.

Speaking to Manorama Online, Gopika said: “If you have a dream, pursue it fearlessly. You should also have the confidence to achieve it. Without that we will reach nowhere. Don’t announce to the world about your goals or your pursuit. Let the results talk for your hard work.”

Her journey has drawn attention to the role of government schemes in enabling access to skill development for marginalised communities. Gopika’s path from a tribal settlement to a professional role in aviation has also highlighted the impact of targeted support in education and employment.