Adversity was never a hindrance for these OCS qualifiers

When Janvhi Sabar topped the Plus-2 science exam in Rayagada district, her father who has never stepped into a school, gifted her a smartphone. And apparently, that was all the encouragement she needed to clear the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) later.

Sabar, who hails from Chalakamba village under Rayagada’s Gunupur block, has secured 362 rank in the OCS. She claims to have cleared the exam by self-study without joining a coaching centre. She put the mobile phone her father gifted her to its optimum use and learned all the lessons for the exams from it.

“I followed Youtube, Google, and my books consistently and coupled it with hard work to qualify for the exams. This is a proud moment for me and I would like to thank my parents for my achievement,” Sabar said while speaking to OTV.

Nine hours a day is what it took Kiran Soren from Simagadia in Mayurbhanj’s Khunta block to crack the OCS. Kiran whose father works as a police havildar in Kendrapara had earlier got a job as Post Master. However, he chose the civil services to serve the people.

Speaking about his approach to study, he said, “We need to take one step at a time, it helps us to concentrate and focus on the task at hand.”

OCS topper Sudev Prusty belongs to a very poor family in Keonjhar. After his father became bedridden with an unknown disease, the responsibility was shifted to his mother and elder brother who made sure that Sudev gets all the opportunity he needs to clear the OCS.

The one thing Sudev shares with only a handful of others is that he too qualified the exam without any coaching.

“His (Sudev) elder brother did whatever was required to support Sudev’s studies. I could only support him till he passed the matric exam. His brother who has joined the Air Force took over Sudev’s studies,” said his mother.

Similarly, Swetalina Sahu from Kulashri village under Cuttack’s Niali block got Rank-30 in the OCS. She achieved this feat despite losing her father just before her exams.

“I am happy to clear the OCS. I will try to alleviate the pains of locals as per my ability,” she said.

Rameswari Hikka (413th Rank) from Jeypore in Koraput lost her father as well. She has her mother who works as a peon in the Jeypore block office as her only support. Rameswari aspires to become an IAS officer after qualifying the UPSC exams as well.

Notably, with the publication of the OCS Results, the OPSC has recommended 432 candidates in order of merit for appointment to posts/services under the Odisha Civil Services (Group A & B) 2021.