In a bid to improve the chances of aspirants from Puducherry for civil services, the government conducted a selection test for a fully-funded one-year civil services exam coaching scheme, on Sunday. From 208 applicants, 112 took the test.
The scheme, operated by the Puducherry Backward Classes and Minorities Development Corporation, provides for classes at Chennai’s Manidha Naeyam IAS Coaching Academy and a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for study material and Rs 7,000 for accommodation and food in Chennai for 15 students. The corporation receives funds from the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The corporation’s chairman, C. Balamurugan, said the scheme helped students pay full attention to preparation, which would not be possible if the were to study in Puducherry.
“The students might be distracted here by parents or issues which crop up. In fact, the Puducherry Adi Dravidar Development Corporation has been conducting classes here and found that it was not effective. Also, when trainers are asked to come to Puducherry from Chennai, they may not be the best,” said Mr. Balamurugan. There have been requests from parents and students to increase the list of selected candidates to 20. The 2012-13 batch, the first under the scheme, are now preparing for their preliminary examinations in August. “The advantage of studying here is that we get the best of faculty which may not be possible if classes were held in Puducherry,” said P. Elangovan, a student from the first batch, adding the students were also allowed to take additional classes at TIME academy.
