Meet Beno Zephine, India's first visually challenged IFS officer

Beno Zephine is just 25 years old. In a rare accomplishment, she has become India’s first 100% visually challenged IFS officer. Once a student of prestigious Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary school for the blind, she went on to major in English from Stella Maris college, and also did her post-graduation from the Madras University. It is because of her hard work and commitment for excellence, that today she is being inducted into the Indian Foreign Service.

Until now, Beno was working as a probationary officer with the SBI. In an interview with Rediff, she said, “I felt empowered and independent. With my first salary, I bought a gold chain for my father and earrings for my mother. Suddenly I felt I had grown up. That made me happy, but I also felt scared at the responsibility. But, then, that is an inevitable part of life.”

She cracked the UPSC in her second attempt. According to Beno, literature is more easily accessible for visually challenged people through audio books, but books for civil service aspirants are hardly available. “I am grateful that in order to give me the assignment, the central government has modified some parameters,” Beno told the Times of India. Her father, Luke Anthony Charles, who works for the Railways, and mother Mary Padmaja, a homemaker, have been huge sources of inspiration for Beno. She is also thankful to her teachers and friends who helped her at every step.

We congratulate Beno for her accomplishment and wish her all the very best for her future.

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