HYDERABAD: The recent killing of Narendra Kumar Singh, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, by the mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh has not taken the sheen off the coveted services. “When someone is selected for IPS, it is expected that they join the services with a realistic expectation of responsibilities the job entails.There have been blasts and attacks all over the world but it does not stop people from living a normal life,” observes M Aparna, an aspirant appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) preliminary examinations on May 20.With mock tests and rigorous preparations being the order of the day, the murder has not deterred city students from aiming for the uniformed service, the second most preferred stream after the Indian Administrative Services (IAS).“Many officers have been targeted earlier for failing to toe the line.The kidnap of Malkangiri district collector last year was one such incident.After talking to my students, I can see that there is empathy for such incidents but no one wants to back out on their goals,” observes V Gopala Krishna, director of a UPSC training academy.Being part of the country’s administrative set up has its share of perks and occupational hazards, a fact not lost on parents and family members of the aspirants. “For a moment I thought if this was the price an honest officer has to pay for doing his duty and whether the rigorous preparation my son is going through worthwhile.However, watching the young officer’s parents on television, I saw the strength which comes with grief,” says Maitreyi Upadhyay, mother of Manuj who will be taking his second shot at the examination this year. The urge to contribute to the country and being an active participant in the functioning of a democracy drives a large number of youngsters to appear for the administrative examinations.“The security of a government job is only a part of it.Most of the students who get through the services come from well-todo families and are qualified enough to work in MNCs and lead a comfortable life.Most of them attribute their aim to get through UPSC for a better scope to do something for the society.The anti-corruption drive by Anna Hazare has in effect changed the passivity of youngsters,” says V Gopala Krishna. He also cited incidents where the wards and siblings of officers have been drawn to the services due to the example set by them.“I have seen at close quarters how dangerous it can be to take on the big names as my uncle has been at the receiving end of such threats for some time now in his capacity as an officer in charge of handling cases of national importance.It does not stop him from doing his duty and enjoying what he does at the same time. It is a part of the job,” says P Harika, who would prefer to join IPS instead of IAS on qualifying the examinations
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