Disabled civil service aspirants, all roads lead to Hosabelaku!
Disability is never a deterrent in pursuing your dreams or working towards it. We know of many disabled people who have conquered heights with sheer determination, passion, and hard work.
Are you a person with a disability who aims to join the Indian Civil Service, but is unsure about where to go for coaching and study materials? Well, your search ends at Hosabelaku, a Bengaluru-based coaching centre!
Every year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds exams for candidates to be admitted into the civil services. This includes the IAS and the IPS, among others. Many candidates with disabilities are interested, but find it hard to access coaching centres that can help them. It is this lack that Hosabelaku aims to fill.
Hosabelaku was started in 2014 by siblings R C Manjumitra and R C Sivakumar. The centre runs a one year residential course that is inclusive. It is open for students with and without disabilities.
Their centre at Vijayanagar at Bengaluru ensures that the policy of inclusion is followed strictly with no discrimination.
So, what makes Hosabelaku unique? For one, the coaching fees for a deserving disabled student is just Rs 1. Compare this to the fees charged by other centres, which is over Rs one lakh. Hosabelaku keeps the fees low for disabled students as well as those from poor families.
This year, Hosabelaku is training two blind girls and another girl with no limbs for the upcoming civil service exams. They are being provided audio clips of classes and sessions. Additional help from a bunch of supportive classmates makes things easier for these students.
Hosabelaku plans to introduce more accessible study materials for disabled students and even a sign language interpreter from the next academic year. This is the first time the centre is reaching out to disabled students and they are open to finding more ways to reach out to them.
There are thousands of civil service aspirants in our country. But how many are serious about it? They spend lakhs of rupees on training and materials. Eventually, they land a job in some other field. There are many students who deserve an entry into civil services. We are in the lookout for such candidates and want to offer the best services for them. This year, we have introduced three disabled students whom we thought are totally worth for pursuing this training – Tarannum Banu, Manager, Hosabelaku
The training procedure is quite strict at Hosabelaku. They follow the Tapassu system, where the heart and soul is devoted to pursuing what you believe in. Students have to follow a routine of waking up early in the morning, doing yoga and meditation, and then start lessons. They are not allowed to use their mobile phones or check out social media for a year!
Those who are serious about their dreams would work for it day in and out. We do not want their concentration to be deviated. Our teachers and mentors keep students updated on what is happening in the outside world – Tarannum Banu, Manager, Hosabelaku
Hosabelaku hopes to reach out to more disabled students in the years to come. This will help many more to pursue their dream of a career in the government. They hope more sponsors will come forward to help these students financially.