Blind IAS officer has vision for aspirants

Taken from Times of India.
AGARTALA: A young Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, posted as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Dhalai district, Tripura, plans to launch a website for those without vision that will help them in their career. The officer, Ajit Kumar Yadav, a resident of Kheri village under Mahendranagar in
south Haryana, is himself visually challenged.

Tripura chief secretary G Kameswar Rao said he is happy to get such an efficient, energetic and dedicated officer in the newly formed sub-division of the most backward district in the state. "He may not be blessed with eyesight, but his vision to run the administration is no less sharp than any one of us."

Yadav can use his mobile and laptop with the help of specially-developed software. The software enables him to identify the caller from his contact list. Similarly, this software-aided computer helps him to run the administration. The website will be based on this software.

Ajit lost his vision when he was just five. A bout of acute diarrhoea left him visionless for the rest of his life. But he went on to complete his studies from Springdale School in New Delhi and always came first in class.

"I was a topper in the Class X board exams. After completing my masters in political science from Ramjas College, Delhi University, I began teaching at a government school in Haryana. Thereafter I cleared the UGC NET-JRF and joined the Shyamlal College of Delhi University as assistant professor. But my
career took off in 2005," recalled Yadav.

In 2005, when the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opened the doors of IAS to the visually impaired, Yadav was motivated to join the administration. He cleared the IAS in 2008. But the road to the administrative service was not smooth.

"After clearing the Civil Service Exam, I kept waiting for a letter of induction into the prestigious IAS. Instead, I was offered a post in the Indian Railways Personnel Service. I fought back and filed a case against the discrimination in the central administrative tribunal (CAT). CAT ruled in my favour
in 2010. But still I did not get an appointment letter," said Yadav.

However, he didn't get disappointed and kept on fighting for justice and finally at the intervention of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), CPM MP Brinda Karat and the Prime Minister, seven of the nine visually impaired candidates received their appointment letters.

Yadav joined as joint secretary of industry in Tripura in 2012. Recently, he was posted in Ambassa with his consent as chief minister Manik Sarkar was concerned about his convenience. But he accepted the post gladly.

Source: Times of India.

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