Thalassaemic finally gets job he was denied A Thalassaemic, who was first in the country to clear the civil

service exam was denied the job due to medical reasons. Know how he won his battle. After over a year of blood, sweat and tears, Sukhsohit Singh's efforts have born e fruit. The first thalassaemic in the country to clear the civil services exami nation but declared unfit because of the rare genetic disorder, he is finally se t to be inducted into the Indian Defence Accounts Services ( Group A). An observation by the medical board at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safd arjung Hospital in New Delhi had jeopardised Sukhsohit's career. The board had d eclared him " unfit for all services" as he suffers from thalassaemia major. Mai l Today highlighted the issue in its June 13 issue under the headline ` Thalassa emic man denied a job that was rightfully his'. On Friday, a beaming Sukhsohit s tated that he received an official communication from the department of personne l and training ( DoPT) informing him about the assignment. The formal offer of a ppointment would be sent by the defence ministry, the cadre- controlling authori ty. The DoPT has also requested the ministry to allow Sukhsohit to join by Septe mber 13 and exempt him from attending the foundation course. " I am happy that my dream is fulfilled. I am also thankful to the government authorities, including the Prime Minister w ho intervened to help me bag the civil servant's job. The media's effort, too, was commendable as it made out a strong case for me," h e said. Sukhsohit had listed three preferences: The Indian Defence Accounts Services, In dian Railway Accounts Services and Indian Railway Personnel Services. All the th ree come under Group A civil services. " I had deliberately opted for non- polic e services that were commensurate with my rank. Sukhsohit, who lives in Panchkula near Chandigarh, was diagnosed with thalassaem ia major in 1985 when he was only one and a half years old. The doctors advised his parents - his father Wing Commander ( retired) M. S. Bawa and mother Gurshar an Kaur - to take good care of their son and assured them that he would be able to lead a " normal" life. Regular medication and blood transfusions were their p rescriptions for his good health. Sukhsohit braved the disease for about 25 years and did not face any mental or p hysical disorder. Not only was he regular at school, his attendance was exceptio nally high. He topped in the 10+ 2 examination in the Chandigarh region Kendriya Vidyalayas. After completing B Com ( Hons) in Business Economics from Panjab Un iversity, he secured the first rank in the income tax examination. His disease did not deter him from securing the first position in MA in public a dministration, and he qualified for the UGC's junior research fellowship ( JRF). Currently, Sukhsohit is pursuing PhD in public administration. He said clearing the civil services exam had been his sole dream and he opted fo r non- technical services.