Joining the civil services is one of the biggest achievements in a person’s life. Where numerous people, every year, fulfill their dream by cracking the UPSC Civil Service Examination, becoming an IAS is still a dream for many who have not been able to reach the milestone yet.
To help the minority communities of the nation in achieving their dream, a one-of-a-kind campaign has been launched owing to which 125 children from minority communities have come to a step closer to their dreams.
A PERSONALISED CAMPAIGN
Actively supported by Anjuman-I-Islam and the All India Khilafat Committee, the campaign is providing deserving students with personalized coaching, guidance, as well as free training for the MPSC and UPSC exams.
The campaign was hit by a brief lull during the Covid-19 pandemic period, during which, the organizations had to move to online sessions and classes to teach and get the students ready. But now that the effect of the pandemic has subsided, the campaign has been officially re-launched and offline and in-person classes and sessions have begun again.
The official launch of the campaign took place in February and since then, over 125 students have enrolled themselves in the class, according to the founder chairman of the initiative, Mr. Gulam Nabi Idrisi.
PREPARATION IN FULL SWING
According to Mr. Idrisi, several government officials are also associated with the campaign. These government officers will be the ones who are going to help in setting the mock test papers. The students have already given three mock tests in the month of May, which they have cleared.
The students have also given the preliminary examination of the UPSC, which was conducted in the first week of the month.
A DISTANT DREAM ABOUT TO COME TRUE
The campaign is about to make several students from the minority communities’ dream of getting into the civil service come true. In an interview given to the media, many students came forward to express their gratitude toward the organization and officials.
For 28-year-old Shabina Khan, joining the IAS always seemed like a distant dream. Born into a poor family, she had to struggle to complete her education. Thanks to the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam IAS-IPS Exam Campaign, initiated in 2018, Shabina will now be able to achieve her dream soon.
25-year-old, Shabnam Shamim Choudhary, resident of Jari Mari, Kurla, Mumbai, said, “I wanted to become an IAS officer, but my family couldn’t afford the fees of the institute or even pay for the study material. This initiative has come as a blessing. I have managed to get at least basic training so that I can take a shot at the UPSC exam.”
PROVIDING AMENITIES TO THE STUDENTS
Out of the 125 students that have enrolled themselves in the campaign, 60 hail from the slums of Dongri. The organization, under the care of government officials, is looking after them and providing them with the necessary facilities.
“We have been providing them with free food and accommodation. The students living in our facility belong to marginalized minority communities,” said Mr. Idrisi. The campaign is currently supporting Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Parsi, and Sikh students, who wish to appear for civil service exams.
Further, Dr. Zahir Kazi, the President of Anjuman-I-Islam, said, “The administration must have representation of all sects and religions. Unfortunately, due to lack of facility and funds, most of the students cannot pursue this dream.”
Sarfaraz Arzu, the chairman of the All India Khilafat Committee, shares his sentiments. “If we have to solve community issues, the presence of marginalized and minority officials in the administration is a must.”
