Coolie makes use of free Wi-Fi at Ernakulam Station to realise civil services dream
Sreenath K, a coolie by profession took advantage of the free WiFi Internet service available at Ernakulam station to clear the written test of the Kerala Public Service Commission.
A high school pass-out who hails from Munnar, Sreenath said that though he has appeared for the civil services examination thrice, this is the first time when he has used WiFi at the station. The WiFi service, launched in 2016 as part of PM Modi's Digital India initiative, provides free Internet to passengers under Railwire, the retail broadband distribution model of RailTel Corporation of India Limited.
"I have appeared thrice for the exam and this is the first time I used the WiFi at the station. What I do is put on my earphones and listen to the study material as I carry the luggage or solve questionnaires in my mind. This way I can study while I work. I revise all my work at night when I get free time," Sreenath was quoted as saying by PTI.
He said the free WiFi service at the station opened up opportunities for him he never thought were available in the first place - reams of practice question papers, downloadable at a speed of 20-40 mbps, easy access to online examination forms, and above everything else, he saves money on books.
If he qualifies for KPSC after interview, he is likely to be a village field assistant under the land revenue department. "I will keep studying. While I work as a coolie because I have the pressure of running my house, I will keep studying and appearing for exams. If I appear for enough exams, I am bound to get a good job," Sreenath said.
He has also applied for exams advertised recently by the railways for 62,000 Group D posts of trackman, cabinman, leverman, pointsman, gangman and others. "What is my ideal job? A person of some authority to change things in my village maybe," he said.
- With PTI inputs
