Civil services ideal for girls

Having spent 35 years as an IAS officer, Chaya Ratan has also dabbled in politics as the Aam Aadmi Party nominee for the Secunderabad constituency. Born in Chennai and educated in Delhi, Chaya is an alumnus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Egged on by her sister during her JNU days, she attempted her civil services. During her fruitful tenure, Chaya had worked for human development, minority and tribal welfare, women and child welfare and senior citizen’s welfare.

Today as an AAP member, Chaya is determined to address the issues of the health sector in the state. Talking to Young Hans, Chaya reminisces her early childhood days and traces the timeline of her profession. “I was brought up in a very cosmopolitan environment. My family has people from all walks of life, castes and religions.

I had a very positive and encouraging environment as a child and I thank my parents for it”, she says, adding that her late sister was her inspiration, all along. “She insisted that I take civil services and encouraged me at every step. I had very little knowledge about the related exams but she helped me out”, recollects Chaya, who was chosen for the IPS cadre after her first attempt at civil service exams.

Though she remembers effortlessly matching up to her male peers during her training days as an IPS officer, Chaya says she was determined to make it to the administrative services. “I could climb the highest rocks along with the male probationary officers and without safety belts. But I felt I was not cut out for a cop’s job”.

Her second attempt at the services exams landed her in the IAS cadre, from where she worked her way upwards. “I worked very hard. Though women in other professions are subject to ill-treatment or subordination, the administrative services provides gender equality”, assures Chaya, who believes the IAS cadre is perfect for girls. “Young girls should take up administrative services. Women here are treated with respect and are considered equals”, she says, while admitting that politicians may sometimes prefer their male colleagues.

“More often, men are made heads of departments as the male-to-male rapport is easily established. But several women have proved their worth and bypassed this minor roadblock”, Chaya stresses. She says that her upright and straight-forward approach had several times invited unwarranted and abrupt transfers, which proved to be a challenge to her.

“It is certainly a disadvantage. But I am satisfied with my service and can hold my head high”. Belonging to the Dalit community, Chaya had to face her set of penalties. “I had to work extra hard to prove myself. People still believe that the so called “Dalits” are ugly, inefficient, uncivilized and uncouth. I had to fight these tags”, she says, stressing that her hard work and determination did the talking for her.

“At the beginning, I was not given good postings and my suggestions were brushed aside. Over the years, I proved my worth and was given my due”, says Chaya, while urging Dalit students to stand up for themselves and their rights. Chaya admits that she still comes across instances of discrimination, especially in the spheres of education and employment. “I agree they still face discrimination. But they should get ahead and prove themselves. The current situation may force them to even hide their identities but they should not give up”, she stresses.

“No one should be judged by their birth. For this, we should bring about a change at the grass-root level. Parents, teachers and students should question the age-old practices and beliefs”, Chaya notes, while also pointing that it should be a two-way effort. “People of the Dalit community too should not mistake everyone to be an oppressor. They should evaluate an individual for who he or she is”.

After her retirement in 2013, Chaya looked to work for children and hence applied for a position in State Commission of Child Rights when she realized her true calling lie elsewhere. “It was during that time I realized that I could not be a part of the system and criticise it. I chose to join the Aam Aadmi Party, from where I could work to uproot the evil practices in the government” she says. Her current goal is to bring about better services in the healthcare sector.

By:Mythili Sankara