Neelima Prajapati, a 26-year-old from Harmada village in Ajmer district, had a dream to secure a government job, a vision she shared with her parents. Due to their challenging circumstances, her parents couldn’t achieve this goal themselves, but they were determined to see their daughter fulfill it.
Neelima, who was always serious about her studies, had completed her bachelor’s degree when her parents decided to enroll her in a B.Ed. program in special education at Sagar College, operated by Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal, in August 2020.
Initially, Neelima was hesitant about the additional expenses of the special education program and suggested pursuing a regular B.Ed. instead. However, after much persuasion and understanding the value of the opportunity, she agreed to pursue the course with dedication. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, she completed her two-year diploma with good marks.
In September 2022, Neelima took the teacher recruitment exam, but it was canceled due to a paper leak. This setback was a significant disappointment for her and her family, but it didn’t deter her. When the exam was rescheduled in February 2023, Neelima resumed her rigorous preparation. She joined a library, sought guidance from college faculty, and studied for 15 to 17 hours a day, despite health issues from the intense workload. Her mother, Mrs. Sajjan Prajapati, provided unwavering support, accompanying her to the library at 5 a.m. and staying with her until late at night, even while managing her own job.
Neelima’s determination paid off. She secured the 28th rank in the state-level merit list for special education teachers and the first position in her district. On October 9, 2023, she joined as a Special Teacher Level 2 in the Rajasthan government. Grateful for her success, Neelima credits her family, RMKM, and Sagar College for their support and acknowledges that without special education, achieving a government job would have been much more challenging.