Differently-Abled Woman Who Mentored UPSC Topper, Secures 167th Rank Herself
Gopala Krishna Ronanki 30 third topper in all-India civil services examination 2016. His teacher Ms Bala Latha 35 a differently-abled woman has also made it to the Indian Administrative Service IAS this time. Considered a role model for youth Bala has ranked 167th.
The UPSC results must have pleased Gopala Krishna Ronanki, 30, third topper in all-India civil services examination 2016, for more reasons than one. His teacher Ms Bala Latha (35), a differently-abled woman, has also made it to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) this time.
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Considered "a role model" for youth, Bala Latha has ranked 167th, having made it to the civil services twice.
In 2009, Bala had got the 399th rank and joined the Indian Defence Service where she is continuing. Though she got a dream job, she continued to help students get into civil services; trained many people who couldn't afford coaching classes. She has made it a morning habit taking coaching classes.
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"To improve my performance and to be an inspiration to many aspirants, I wrote the examination again in 2016," says she. However, she says, she is not going to join the IAS this time, because she is already "in that field". She knows the troubles faced by rural students in writing UPSC exams, so her aim is to "provide guidance and training to more people rather than become an IAS officer".
As for Gopala Krishna, she says, he was a "meritorious student since childhood and never compromised on anything".
TOI
Gopala Krishna Ronanki (IAS) is my student, and with his success, "my dream has been fulfilled finally" she says. "I know him personally and the problems he faced as he came from a rural background," she told media.
"My real success lies in bringing a change, a change in the state of Indian women - in particular our perception towards differently-abled women," says Latha.
