Keonjhar: Breaking all the social restrictions and conventional beliefs, a girl from Odisha's Keonjhar district turned woman pilot of a reputed aviation firm AirAsia.

With achieving new height in the career, Selvi Mishra of Rukunadeipur sasan under Sadar block of the district has set an example for all the women who believe in their self confidence and determination.

Her achievement sends a clear message to society that Women are not only confined to manage the family, kitchen and children, but also can prove their potentialities in all the sectors.

Selvi, a daughter of Bipin Mishra, an employee in Indian Navy, had a dream of flying in the sky since her childhood. Now her dream came true following long years of struggle.

After completing her graduation (B.Sc) and aviation as her special paper in a college in Mumbai, she joined two-year training course at Alfa Tango Flying School in Texas in the US. However, her dream to become a professional pilot found to be shattered when airline industry went through severe loss due to global economic slowdown.

She waited for five years to get appointment and preferred to join as the faculty in several aviation institutes. Her joy knew no bound when she got offer from AirAsia. She was appointed as the woman pilot in AirAsia last year.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru-based Selvi has been allowed to fly international flights along with domestic flights. She has already gained experience by flying to countries including Kuwait and Dubai.

To her, the time for sitting beside the chullah and cook is over; now the girls can touch the sky and orbit earth.

"The time has come to send the message to the society that girls are not less than anyone in skills," said Selvi.

As a pilot, a girl faces many adversities like storm and fog in the sky and sometimes technical glitch and signal failure makes the situation uglier for her. However, Odisha girl Selvi has moved ahead with her dauntless attitude and wisdom.

Now the sky is not unreachable for girls and the society should realise it, she said.