The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) last week declared its final examination results for the Combined Group C exam. An Amravati citizen, Mala Papalkar, was among those in the declared list on April 18. She is a visually impaired person and has set an example that nothing is impossible if you have self-confidence.
Papalkar appeared for the examination in 2023, and the results were declared 22 months later. The 25-year-old Maharashtra resident will now begin her career as a revenue assistant in the Nagpur collectorate. Speaking to The Indian Express newspaper, Papalkar said that she was nervous about living on her own in Nagpur after leaving the ashram.
Who Is Mala Papalkar?
Mala Papalkar, a visually challenged woman, was rescued from a dustbin at Jalgaon Railway Station 25 years ago. She was brought up under the care of Shankar Baba Papalkar, a Padma Shri awardee and social worker from Amravati. The Shankar Baba Ashram is situated in Wazzar, which became Papalkar's home after the Department of Women and Child Development placed her, as per The Indian Express report.
Her government documents were made stating that she is the daughter of the social worker. Papalkar was 10 years old when she was shifted to the ashram after staying at the child's remand home and it was found that she was blind. She has only 5% functional vision and is physically weak.
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She completed her schooling from Swami Vivekanand Blind School and then took admission into Bhiwapurkar Blind School in Amravati before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Vidarbha Mahavidyalaya. Papalkar scored 60% marks in 10th standard and 65% in college. She has also received a merit position in Braille script for 10 years.
In 2019, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Papalkar took admission in Amol Patil’s Unique Academy, an institute which helps aspirants prepare for competitive exams. Patil used to record the lessons for her to teach her. “I had to find audiobooks for her or sometimes even record the lessons myself so she could listen and learn,” said Patil.
She cleared her MPSC Mains in 2024, but the result was declared last week after the candidates went through a skill test. Speaking to the news agency ANI Papalkar said, "I was a child when I came to Padma Shri Shankar Baba Papalkar. I do not know where my parents are. Shankar Baba gave me his name and helped me in my education. I never knew I would be able to pass this exam. I was very happy after passing this exam. I used to study 6-7 hours daily..."