Odisha’s 1st visually-impaired OAS Officer Sanyasi Kumar joins as District Social Security Officer

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Sanyasi Behera, who went on to become the first visually-impaired Odisha Administrative Services (OAS) officer by clearing the prestigious Odisha Civil Services Examination last year, joined as the District Social Security Officer, Head Quarters in the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department (SSEPD) of Capital Hospital Campus here on Thursday.

Speaking about his new appointment, Sanyasi said that he aims to work for the visually-impaired people in the mainstream sector with his two new government schemes that will focus on senior citizens as well. He plans to work for the most marginalised Persons With Disabilities in the State of Odisha.

Earlier on November 8, 2017, the 43-year-old OAS officer was appointed at Puri Collector’s office.

Behera had secured 220th position in the exam conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC). However, he stood first among the candidates in physically challenged category.

For Behera, success did not come all of a sudden. Being the Secretary of State Blind Association, he had to fight a long legal battle for induction of the visually-impaired category in the mainstream service sector.

He had challenged the notification of the State Government in court that did not allow the blinds to go in for the administrative services. After a long battle of 8 years, finally, the order was passed in their favour in 2014. But when the forms for the examinations were out in July 2015, it was clearly stated that partially-impaired persons would be able to appear the exams.

Sanyasi knocked the State Disability Commission and challenged the order. It was revoked the notification and finally his preparation for the civil services started.

Hailing from a very poor family in Kishoreprasad village of Ganiya block in Nayagarh district, Behera has faced many hardships in his life.

He completed his matriculation from Bhima Bhoi School for The Blind in Bhubaneswar and joined Nayagarh College to pursue higher studies, but had to quit studies halfway due to personal problems. However, he crossed all his obstacles to reach his destination and completed his graduation from Algappa University in Tamil Nadu and finished office management course as well.