First visually impaired IFS officer from Tamil Nadu says she is raring to go

A visually impaired woman from Tamil Nadu, who is all set to become the first IFS officer with 100 per cent visual impairment, says she is raring to go around the globe representing India.

The 25 year-old NL Beno Zephine received orders from the Central government last week asking her to report within 60 days.

The literature graduate said she was excited and wanted to travel to Delhi as early as possible to take up her responsibility.

Zephine's concern over issues mattering in daily life while at school, even as basic as saving water, turned out to be her inspiration to give a shot at public service commission exams. And the one year wait after clearing the papers in 2014 turned to be fruitful with the External Affairs Ministry sending her the orders last week.

Zephine said she was told that the encouraging policy of the Narendra Modi's government had helped in overcoming any possible procedural delays in her appointment.

"I was told that I was eligible for IFS (though) persons with 100 per cent visual impairment had not been given posts earlier," a jubilant Zephine said on Monday, while thanking the Prime Minister. She said she had been informed about possible postings both in India and abroad and that she was raring to go.

Zephine credits her parents for what she has achieved, saying her father took her wherever she wanted to go in pursuit of her dreams and managing to buy every other book for this purpose. Her mother would assist her in studying the books, sometimes reading them aloud.

A probationary officer with State Bank of India, Zephine has a big list of well-wishers she wants to thank. Besides Modi, this included Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Central Ministers Jitendra Singh (PMO) and Pon Radhakrishnan, among others.

She also thanked her employer SBI and Boominathan of the academy where she undertook coaching for civil service examination. Zephine is now pursuing a PhD degree.