Berhampur: In a major boost for civil services aspirants in Odisha, the Ganjam District Administration has launched a free coaching initiative to help students prepare for prestigious competitive examinations such as UPSC (IAS) and OAS. The programme, titled “Ganjam Lakshya Niketan Training Centre,” has been established in Berhampur and will provide one year of free coaching to selected candidates.
The initiative has been launched under the leadership of Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, who has taken a proactive step to support talented students from the district who aspire to join the civil services but lack access to quality coaching.
70 Candidates Selected for Free Training
Under the programme, 70 aspirants have been selected to receive completely free coaching for one year at the newly established training centre.
The selection process witnessed an overwhelming response from students across the district. Around 700 candidates appeared for a competitive selection test held in January, out of which 170 candidates were shortlisted. After further evaluation, 70 students from Berhampur were finally selected for the training programme.
Interestingly, a majority of the selected candidates are female aspirants, making the initiative a strong example of women empowerment and educational encouragement for girls in the region.
Quality Coaching Without Leaving Berhampur
One of the key objectives of the initiative is to ensure that students no longer need to travel to major cities like Delhi or Bhubaneswar for civil services preparation.
Under the programme, experienced faculty from the well-known Delhi-based Sarthi IAS Coaching Centre will provide online classes and expert guidance to the selected students. The training will focus on preparing candidates for both national-level examinations like UPSC and state-level administrative services such as OAS.
Guidance From Serving IAS, IPS Officers
Apart from academic coaching, students will also receive direct mentorship and motivation from serving administrative and police officers.
Senior officials including IAS, IPS, and other district-level officers will regularly interact with students, share their professional experiences, and guide them on strategies for success in highly competitive examinations.
Such interactions are expected to inspire students and provide practical insights into the functioning of the civil services.
Officers Motivate Students During Inauguration
At the inauguration ceremony of the training centre, Southern Range IG of Police Niti Shekhar addressed the aspirants and encouraged them to stay focused on their goals.
Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan and Berhampur Superintendent of Police also interacted with the students, motivating them to remain determined and work hard until they achieve success.
Public Representatives Attend the Event
The inauguration programme was attended by several public representatives and officials, including:
- Berhampur MLA K. Anil Kumar
- Chikiti MLA
- Digapahandi MLA Siddhant Mohapatra
- Berhampur Mayor Sanghamitra Dalei
- Berhampur Municipal Corporation Commissioner A. Shasya Reddy
- Sub-Collector Abinash Kumar
- Other district officials and dignitaries
The initiative has been widely praised by public representatives, educators, and intellectuals, who see it as a meaningful step toward empowering the youth of Ganjam district.
Plans to Expand Centres in Future
Encouraged by the response, the district administration is also planning to establish similar training centres in Chhatrapur and Bhanjanagar in the coming years, ensuring that more students from rural and semi-urban areas get access to quality coaching.
Early Signs of Success
The Ganjam Lakshya Niketan initiative has already shown promising results, with five candidates recently clearing the UPSC examination after receiving interview guidance through the programme.
Officials believe that with structured training and mentorship, the centre will produce many more successful civil servants from the district in the future.
Overall, the initiative is being seen as a forward-looking effort by the Ganjam District Administration to nurture talent and open new opportunities for aspiring civil servants.
