From dustbin to government officer: Inspiring journey of visually impaired Mala who cleared MPSC

Mala Papalkar, a visually impaired woman who was once abandoned in a dustbin at Jalgaon railway station, has scripted an incredible success story by clearing the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examination. 

Rescued 25 years ago and raised in a rehabilitation centre in Amravati, Mala, now 26, is all set to start her career as a government officer.

Despite the odds, Mala’s perseverance and dedication led her to crack the MPSC clerk exam in May last year. She has now been appointed as a Revenue Assistant at the Nagpur Collectorate.

Gifted with remarkable talent and a sharp memory, Mala successfully completed her postgraduate education. Though she initially faced setbacks—failing twice in her attempts to qualify for the Tehsildar position in August 2022 and again in December 2023—she remained undeterred. Her persistence paid off when she cleared the MPSC clerk (typewriting) examination, this time with the support of a scribe.

Mala attributes her transformation to Padma Shri awardee Shankar Baba Papalkar, who raised her as his own daughter. Known for his tireless work with orphaned and differently-abled children, Shankar Baba has become a beacon of hope for many like Mala. His ashram in Wazzar, Amravati, currently shelters over 120 children.

Honoured with the Padma Shri for social work in January last year, Shankar Baba’s lifelong commitment to the underprivileged has made dreams like Mala’s possible.