Kerela’s Jobin S Kottaram runs project Chitrasalabham under his institute Absolute IAS Academy to help aspirants with motor disabilities crack the examination.
“Chithrasalabham in Malayalam means ‘butterfly’. We wanted to give wings to students with disabilities,” he says.
“Because of their disability, people look at them differently. Society — sometimes even their parents — consider them a burden, that they are not capable of doing anything.”
“They are capable, but there’s hardly anyone to support them,” says the 41-year-old.
Jobin does not charge a single penny for a course that could cost as high as Rs 1,10,000. He utilises the profits that the academy makes from regular classes.
Jobin teaches around 100 students with orthopaedic disabilities, cerebral palsy, and visual and hearing impairments in offline and online batches.
This year, his student Sherin Sahana cleared the UPSC exam securing the 913th rank. “Her example could encourage other students with disabilities to come forward,” says Jobin.
“When people from a segment like this come into power, they will understand their problems and can change policies as well.”
“I want to make Chitrasalabham a social transformation project and tell the world that if you are in an influential role, you can also support people like you,” he adds.