State topper gives up IT job for IAS

Not many would give a job offer in a top software company a go-by to chase a dream. But Rashmita Panda had dared to do exactly that in 2006; she did not accept a placement in an IT major she had secured after graduating in mechanical engineering from the city-based College of Engineering and Technology (CET). For, she wanted to be an IAS officer.

"I wanted to join the IAS. That has been my long cherished dream," said Rashmita, a day after her dream was fulfilled with the UPSC declaring the civil service examination results. With history and public administration as her subjects, the bespectacled Rashmita finished 13th in the merit list, spreading waves of joy and celebration among her family and friends. "I had put in loads of hard work during the past three years. Somewhere within me I was expecting to make it because I could not have performed better," the 25-year-old gushed.

Earlier in 2008, Rashmita had appeared the viva-voce test, but could not get into the much-coveted services. "I wanted to become part of the civil services as I believe it would help me carry out development work in various fields," pointed out Rashmita, who has been teaching at a private engineering college here for some time now. "For me money is not the only factor to determine my career goals. Contentment and job satisfaction are important," she said, explaining her decision not to join the corporate world where pay packets could be very fat.

Rashmita, who completed her education in the city, said hard work led to her success. "I had taken guidance for a year in Delhi, but other than that I all along studied in Bhubaneswar," said the girl, whose father Abhiram Panda works as a bank officer and mother Rukmini is a homemaker.

Apart from Rashmita, quite a few others from Orissa have made it to the civil services this time. Going by reports, at least 15 aspirants from the state have emerged successful.

They include Sudhanshu Mohan Samal (rank 18), Ganesh Shankar Mishra (rank 22), Mitrabhanu Mohapatra (rank 109), Manok Kumar Mishra, Madhusmita Sahu, Sarah Sharma, Abhisekh Mishra, Ajay Mishra, Sashikanta Tripathy, Biswarup Das, Rajesh Sahu, Umakanta Drupadi, Nibedita Swain and Chittaranjan Majhi.

Courtesy: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com