In a significant boost for job aspirants, the Ganjam district administration in Odisha has announced a flagship initiative to provide completely free coaching for prestigious competitive examinations. The program, named 'Ganjam Lakshya Niketan', aims to support candidates preparing for exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
Structure and Selection Process
District Collector Keerthi Vasan V. revealed that the initiative will initially benefit approximately 150 students. To ensure wide reach, three coaching centres will be established across the district's subdivisions: one each in Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, and Chhatrapur. Each centre will accommodate 50 selected aspirants, with a firm commitment to gender parity—50% of the seats are reserved for girls.
The selection of candidates will be merit-based, conducted through a dedicated entrance examination. This test is scheduled for January 25. Interested students can begin their registration process starting January 1. The actual coaching classes are planned to commence in February or March and will be conducted primarily in virtual mode to ensure accessibility and quality.
Expert Guidance and Future Expansion
The administration has proactively held discussions with reputed coaching institutes from New Delhi and other educational hubs. These institutes have agreed to partner in the venture and deliver high-quality instruction to students remotely via virtual classrooms. Additionally, the plan includes inviting expert resource persons periodically to provide specialized guidance and mentorship to the aspirants.
Collector Keerthi Vasan emphasized that this initiative is designed to level the playing field. "The initiative will help jobseekers, poor and talented aspirants who are not able to go to New Delhi or any other city for preparation," he stated. He expressed hope that more and more job seekers would come forward to avail of this opportunity.
Broader Vision for Employment
Looking ahead, the district administration has plans to expand the scope of 'Ganjam Lakshya Niketan'. The future roadmap includes extending free coaching to aspirants preparing for the Agniveer recruitment scheme and various other posts in the defence and government sectors. This expansion underscores a comprehensive approach to empowering the youth of Ganjam with the skills and knowledge needed to secure government employment.
This move is seen as a strategic investment in human capital, aiming to bridge the geographical and financial gap that often hinders talented students from rural and semi-urban areas in their pursuit of prestigious careers in public service.
