Differently abled Odisha girl clears UPSC

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, June 12:

The saying ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ has been proven in emphatic fashion by Sarika Jain, a differently abled woman from Kantabanji in Odisha’s Bolangir district, who has successfully cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service Examination-2013, the results of which were announced today.

Sarika, who ranks a respectable 527 among 1,222 candidates who made the cut in the Civil Service Examination-2013, hails from a Jain business family in Kantabanji. Her father Sadhuram Jain is a small time businessman, who deals in minor forest produce.

Her brother Niwas Jain helps her father in their family business.

Sarika, who is afflicted with polio in her right leg with 50 percent disability since the age of two- in 1985 despite taking polio drops- went to school at Sarawati Sishu Mandir, Kantabanji and later completed her bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the Women’s College in Kantabanji.

“Positive thinking can change life,” Sarika told OST over phone on her stupendous achievement. “I am a firm believer in Jain philosophy,” she said.  “Mansha vaysa kaysa su karma karna,” she said quoting from Jain philosophy.

“By the grace of God, we are able to meet our ends; I wish my daughter serves Odisha,” said an elated Sadhuram Jain, father of Sarika.