Episode 17 - Enabling Others

Women in Labour

Our next guest, Ira Singhal was prevented from joining the civil services because of discrimination against her disability. She contested the case, and then went on to earn the highest score in the country for the civil service exam. Today, she serves in the country’s Indian Administrative Services (IAS). In line with her purpose of helping and enabling others, the role allows Ira to create opportunities for others, to empower others. With special guest Ira Singhal Ira Singhal is the first Person with Disability to top the prestigious Civil Services Examination, 2014. She currently serves as D.C. of Keshavpuram Zone in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, and is the Brand Ambassador for the Department of Disability, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. She is also a brand ambassador for Niti Ayog and is on the National Panel for Accessible Elections, Election Commission of India. She has won a number of awards, including India Today’s Woman of the Year 2015, President’s Gold Medal for Topping the IAS Training, and the First Ladies of India Award by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Ira is also recorded in the Limca Book of Records. She has been a speaker on wide ranging issues like education, disability, Gender issues, skill development, and career counselling at more than 500 international and national conferences, industry forums, universities, colleges, and other top institutions of the country MORE TO READ. This NDTV article: https://www.ndtv.com/jobs/upsc-cse-number-of-women-joining-civil-services-is-less-than-25-2196839 This 2019 ThePrint article: https://theprint.in/opinion/understand-disability-mussoorie-academys-civil-servant-trainees-blindfolded-themselves/300759/ This 2019 HT article: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/north-mcd-installs-plastic-bottle-flaking-machines-in-karol-bagh/story-T55ah2AQdiRcqkvT2KiBsN.html This 2015 ET article: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ira-singhals-journey-to-the-top-of-the-upsc-heap-is-a-signal-of-hope-for-every-disabled-person-battling-the-odds/articleshow/50335561.cms?from=mdr MORE TO WATCH. This 2019 TEDx talk by Ira titled ‘The Role of Women as Future Leaders’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrHlE5NEtvw This 2018 TEDx talk by Nipun Malhotra titled ‘Disability and India’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzgsQTUQ-Fw This 2017 interview with Ira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxV7_vAltRE A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.