Free IAS coaching scheme for poor students launched in Kerala

Kochi: A scheme to provide free coaching to civil services and other competitive examinations to 10,000 meritorious but financially weak students across Kerala was launched by the State’s Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday.

Declaring open the ‘One School, One IAS’ programme being implemented by Vedhik Erudite Foundation with the support of sponsors, he said, “This higher education platform will give the children a chance to completely redecorate their future plans and broaden their horizons…”

Actor Manju Warrier made the first sponsorship declaration while hailing the foundation’s scholarship programme. To begin with, she adopted 10 girl students by meeting their coaching expenses for civil service exams.

The Governor said that to serve as a civil servant is a dream every young mind carries from an early stage but many of them do not know where to start and what it takes to achieve this goal. A subsequent relocation to big cities entails huge expenses, he said.

“For the first time in the country, we have the One School, One IAS programme that is set to produce at least one civil servant from all schools in the country, Khan said. Coming from rural and semi-urban areas, they will mainly be from the government and aided schools,” he added.

The function was addressed online by the foundation patron Dr CV Ananda Bose and Director Dr Muhammad Basheer.

Former Chief Secretary and Cabinet Minister of Karnataka Dr J Alexander said the novel initiative envisages equipping students with not just preparing for the civil services but also other competitive exams.

The academy, which focuses on aspirants from rural areas, would start grooming them from the high school level, he added.

Former Kerala DGP Alexander Jacob said one per cent inspiration was crucial for a civil services aspirant to come out successful.

“No student who is keen to join the IAS, IPS or clear similar competitive exams should suffer owing to lack of funds,” he said in his keynote address, revealing that he has given training to 525 such aspirants.

The ‘One School, One IAS’ is an inverse case of the ‘Mountain going to Mohammed,’ Jacob said, referring to the oft-referred proverb.