Bhubaneswar: As girls headlined this year’s Odisha Civil Services Examination by securing the top three ranks, Pravati Jhodia, a girl from Pahandi area of Kashipur block in Rayagada has grabbed the limelight for being the first girl from the tribal Jhodia community to clear the exam.
Pravati, who secured 76th rank in the examination, shared her success mantra with OTV today and said that students coming from backward areas should never bring inferior complexity into mind.
Asked about what her thoughts were on the idea that students who don’t have good quality education like in ICSE and CBSE cannot easily make into top exams, Pravati said nothing is impossible if one has the focus and dedication to work for the dream irrespective of the place where one hails from. But proper guidance is utmost necessary.
Pravati who works as a junior lecturer in Koraput DAV College and is also simultaneously preparing for her UPSC Exams said her stint in the college has helped her get groomed for the civil services examination.
Pravati said that her father Mangala Charan Jhodia is a retired government employee and her family culture made it easier for her in preparing.
"I am very lucky unlike so many students from backward areas who don’t have the privileges of good education and facilities. To become an IAS or OAS, one does not necessarily need to be intelligent but continuous efforts and dedication with sincerity is essential," she said.
Speaking about her future plans, Pravati said that she is targeting to crack the 2019 UPSC Examinations. "From my childhood I have always dreamt to become a bureaucrat so that I can do well for my community which I am sure will inspire more girls like me."
Not only Pravati, another girl from the backward tribal district of Malkangiri has also received accolades for securing a position in the candidate merit list of the OCS Examination.
Sandhya Samarth, a resident of Samili village under Mathili block of Malkangiri district has secured 91st rank in the examination. Starting her education from the village, Sandhya later enrolled at Navodaya Vidyalaya before graduating from Bhubaneswar BJB College.
Having received a rank without any coaching, Sandhya who managed to clear the examination in the very first attempt expressed her happiness and credited her parents for the success.