Thiruvananthapuram: The country's first visually challenged woman IAS officer has taken charge as sub-collector of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Monday (October 14). Pranjal Patil was born with weak eyesight and lost her vision when she was six.
On resuming duties, she said, "Don't give up. Keep trying. You will get that one break that you require."
She completed her Masters in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and after that, she was admitted into an integrated M Phil and Ph D programme. Her exposure to the culture of JNU inspired her to pursue a career in civil services.
After clearing the UPSC exams in the first attempt, Patil was offered a job in the Indian Railway Account Service (IRAS). But the railways refused to appoint her owing to her nil vision.
Later, she cracked the UPSC exams in the second attempt and stood 124th in the country. Last year, she was appointed the assistant collector at Ernakulam on May 28.