Asha Kandara, the mother of two who swept the streets under Jodhpur Municipal Corporation to earn money in order to support her family and who recently achieved her dreams by becoming a Rajasthan Administrative Service officer, is now all set to receive the post of Deputy Collector.
Read her story here: Sweeping Away Her Misfortunes
The Mayor and CEO of the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, where she worked as a cleaner, felicitated her at a special function. They tied a ‘safa’ (Rajasthani turban) on her head, the entire office clapped and cheered for her as media crews vied for her sound bites.
Asha has come a long way, but what makes her story remarkable is that she has singlehandedly brought up her two children after separation from her husband nine years ago and completed her graduation. What made her task tougher is the fact that she comes from the Valmiki caste, one of the most backward castes in our society which has suffered centuries of discrimination.
Asha hopes her success will inspire others, especially single women, to dream big. “We should never underrate ourselves. If we do not realize our own strength, if we don’t respect our own self, we can’t get anything. Hard work always pays,” she says.
Over the next two years, Asha will train at the Officers Training School in Jaipur before taking up her assignment as a RAS officer. She still dreams of getting into the IAS, which she can probably achieve after 15 years of experience in the RAS.
