IRPS under trainee, Agra Dalit girl secures 121 rank; uplifting the marginalised was her motivation for success

AGRA: The 24-years-old Neha Bandhu of Nainana Jat village in Agra, has secured 121 rank in union public service commission for 2019. Hailing from Dalit community, the IIT BHU alumna is under trainee of Indian railway personal service.
In 2017, in her first attempt she stood 954 rank in the country, but later she took extra ordinary leave (EOL) for a year and studied with her elder sister Jyotsna Bandhu (28), who is sub divisional magistrate of Etawah district.“The credit behind my success goes to my elder sister and my parents. They are the ones who motivated and guided me in my endeavour,” said Neha Bandhu, who did her schooling till high school from hindi medium in rural Agra—Naval Singh inter-college Saiyan.

The electric engineer Neha is former state level Kabadi player and loves dancing. “Looking at my resume, the chairperson of UPSC in the interview asked me to explain laws of science in ballet dancing for which I sited few laws such as gravity. The point I’m trying convey is, that students should participate in extra co-circular activities, it helps in personality grooming and builds confidence to set a goal in life and achieve it. I don’t give up and this trait came into me, with my regular participation in school activities,” said Neha who had qualified national talent examination and did her 12th from Queen Victoria Inter-college.

When asked, as what was the reason behind opting civil services as her carrier, Neha said, “To uplift the marginalised. To be the voice of voiceless. I want to work under the system and use all its available resources to help those who can’t help themselves. I belong from SC/ST category but I had opportunity to study—however many girls hailing from my background don’t have that chance. I want to create that chance for such girls via focusing on implementing education for all. I personally believe, education, health and women empowerment is need of the hour.”

Her younger brother Amit Bandhu is pursing LLB from Bengaluru.