The sole aim of these achievers from Mangaluru, Udupi is to serve the people

Mangaluru/Udupi, May 12: The sole aim of the two female candidates from twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi who have cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examinations (2015) is to serve the people.

26-year-old engineering graduate Michelle D'Costa, who has secured the 387th rank, says that she hopes to get into the IAS and does not mind serving in the Forest and other Civil Services streams.

Michelle D'Costa and Nivya P Shetty

Michelle D'Costa is the second of the three children of Lazarus and Nancy Felcy D'Costa, farmers at Neerude near Moodbidri in Mangaluru taluk. They grow arecanut and coconut on their five-acre land.

Michelle D'Costa says that joining the Civil Services has been in her mind since her schooldays thanks to her father's encouragement. She studied till the seventh standard in the St. Francis Xavier Higher Primary School in Neerude and then continued her schooling at Little Flower Secondary School at Kinnigoli. She did her pre-university course from Alva's PU College. She graduated from R.V. College of Engineering in Information Science in 2011.

Since then Michelle D'Costa has involved herself in cracking the Civil Services Examination. She spent a few months in New Delhi where she attended tutorials and prepared in General Studies and Kannada literature. The 2015 examination was her third attempt.

“It was my dream to serve the people by cracking UPSC exam. I am ready to serve the public with whatever service I get for my rank,” Michelle said.

“This is my third Prelims and first Mains and interview. I have also appeared for the state civil service examinations. I took coaching as a preparation for the exam. The only way to crack the exam is to prepare consistently and updating general knowledge. My parents supported me throughout. I am grateful to my parents and God for the success.”

On the other hand Nivya P Shetty, a native of Thombathu village in Udupi's Kundapura taluk, who has secured 274th rank, also says that the support and guidance of her parents helped her to achieve success.

Daughter of advocate Prakash Shetty and Narmada P Shetty, Nivya Shetty currently stays in Bengaluru with her parents. She completed her schooling from Sophia School in Bengaluru and later completed her engineering from Sir MVIT.?She has cleared the UPSC in her first attempt.

“I'm happy that I have secured 274th rank in my first attempt. Depending on the rank secured, I will get IPS or revenue services. I am more interested to work in Indian Administrative Service (IAS), hence I will write the exam in coming year,” she said.

“I consider this as a small step, I always wanted to be in public service, in any capacity. I will work hard to secure better rank next time and serve the poor,” she added.