Determined IAS aspirant with rare bone disorder appears for UPSC CSE prelims 2019 with oxygen cylinder
24-year-old Latheesha Ansari of Kottayam doesn’t let her rare bone disorder come in the way of her dreams. The IAS aspirant arrived at the exam centre for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2019 on Sunday in a wheelchair withan oxygen cylinder in tow.
IAS aspirant, bone disorder, UPSC CSE prelims 2019, wheelchair, oxygen cylinder
24-year-old Latheesha Ansari of Kottayam doesn’t let her rare bone disorder come in the way of her IAS dreams.
A rare bone disorder coupled with a respiratory condition requiring external oxygen support did not deter 24-year-old Latheesha Ansari of Kottayam from setting her eyes on the highly coveted civil services and appearing for the UPSC exam on Sunday.
On Sunday, the IAS aspirant appeared for the Preliminary Civil Services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on a wheel chair and an oxygen cylinder beside her.
Latheesha, who was diagnosed with ‘type II Osteogenesis Imperfecta’ (brittle bone disease) after birth, also suffers from pulmonary hypertension since over a year due to which she needs an oxygen cylinder always besides her for respiratory needs.
The short-statured IAS aspirant had to be carried to school by her father due to her condition, father Ansari, who hails from Erumeli in Kottayam, said.
Portable oxygen cylinder provided by Kottayam District Collector
Thanks to the intervention of Kottayam District Collector PR Sudheer Babu, a portable oxygen concentrator was provided to her inside the examination hall.
A portable equipment would be provided to her free of cost for which tender process had been completed, the collector told PTI when contacted.
Her parents had travelled to the examination hall with an oxygen cyclinder.
Latheesha has been preparing for the UPSC for one and a half year
Latheesha, who appeared for the examination at a centre here, told PTI that she had been preparing for the examination since the past one and half years and hoped that her efforts would prove fruitful.
The IAS aspirant, who has completed her M Com degree, has chosen Malayalam as the optional subject for the examination.
Latha Nair of Amritavarshini, a charitable Society working for children with the rare genetic distorder, said the UPSC needs to provide better facilties for IAS aspirants like Latheesha.
She needs about Rs 25,000 a month for a medical needs, Nair said.
The examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), was held in 72 cities across India on Sunday.
