"Focus on your abilities, not disability" – My Take by Ira Singhal, IAS Officer

Ira Singhal, Deputy Commissioner of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, recently in the news after she targeted in an abusive social media attack, won kudos for her tact and toughness. In My Take, she talks about the influences that shaped her journey and inner toughness.

I was born in Meerut and moved to Delhi with my family 25 years back. After class 12 at a mainstream school, I did a degree in engineering and then an MBA in Finance and Marketing before sitting for the Civil Services exams.

I was working as a Strategy Manager of Cadbury’s and I felt the need to make a difference in someone’s life. I felt that I must help people in need and that is why I decided to take the Civil Service exams. Today, I can work for both people with and without disabilities. That is one of the best things about my job.

I have been blessed with a supportive family. My parents have always stood by me through thick and thin. My father was an engineer and my mother an insurance advisor. I am the only daughter and has been lucky to get the abundant love of my parents. Since we live in a joint family, my relatives have backed me in all my ventures. Their support has added to my strengths.

Empowering people

I am happy doing my job because I can reach out to many people who need my help since I have a brilliant profile. Going further, I want to concentrate more on my job and keep helping others. Right now, I am part of a handful of government ventures to empower people from all walks of life.

I would say that there is a lot of discrimination towards the disabled community in general. It was way lesser when I was in school, but more in college.

Currently, I hardly find time to get engaged in other activities owing to a busy schedule. But I love reading and travelling to new places. I want to keep aspiring to work for more people around me.

Focus on your abilities and not your disabilities. Cultivate things that interest you are work towards making your dreams a reality. If you think negatively, people around you are also going to feel the same way about you. Hence, concentrate on only positives and what you can do.

ALSO READ: ‘Think beyond & work towards your goals’ – My Take by Kartik Sawhney

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