Telangana Social Welfare Residential Sainik School Student Ashok Sai Selected for NDA Fighter Pilot Course

Where there is a will, there is a way. Son of a disabled father, P. Ashok Sai of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Sainik School, Rukmapur, Karimnagar, proved the adage right and created a unique record by getting selected for National Defence Academy, Air Force Fighter Pilot course. He successfully cleared UPSC and Services Selection Board (SSB) exams of the ministry of Defence, New Delhi. Ashok Sai will undergo training at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasala, Pune. He set an example that poverty is not a hurdle to reaching great heights in life.

“This is a moment of great honour and pride for the state of Telangana to see such a young boy from extremely poor background getting selected for the Indian air force in the officer cadre” said Koppula Eshwar, Minister for Scheduled Castes Development Department, while congratulating the talented student. He termed it as a ground-breaking effort by the TSWREIS Secretary Ronald Rose and his team and the entire credit goes to the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekar Rao for championing the cause of poorest of poor students.

Ronald Rose, Secretary, TSWREIS, said, “Clearing NDA exam is not a cakewalk and it’s a five-day selection process wherein a candidate’s physical, psychological and mental abilities are evaluated to the core. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the NDA exam and the selection rate is only 0.1 percent. Ashok Sai’s achievement is one of the historic milestones in the successful journey of TSWREI students. Telangana is the only state in the country to have launched exclusive Sainik schools for underprivileged students”.

“It’s a big moment for me as well as for my teachers and trainers at Rukmapur Sainik School, while thanking the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and the Minister for Scheduled Castes Development Department Koppula Eshwar”, said an elated Ashok Sai. He further said “I am extremely thankful to the Government of Telangana for starting an exclusive Sainik school for marginalized students. Without the government’s support and vision, I wouldn’t have even dreamt of becoming a flying officer in my wildest dreams given my humble family background.”

Ashok Sai further said “My father is disabled and mother works as a tailor to make both ends meet, hail from Palwai village, Gurampodu mandal, Nalgonda district. In fact, my parents are so innocent that they can’t really understand about my selection. I explained to them that I got an opportunity to serve the Indian nation as an air force pilot and they are extremely happy. I am looking forward to serving the Indian nation with a sense great pride and honor.”