3.5-foot IAS officer Arti Dogra inspires specially-abled with her tall deeds

Making one’s presence felt is possible not just by being tall but by also achieving what seems impossible. And doing precisely this is Arti Dogra, who is 3.5 feet tall yet facing all kinds of discrimination because of her appearance, she cleared the Civil Services Examination in the first shot!

Born to Colonel Rajendra and Kumkum Dogra, this IAS officer belongs to Dehradun, Uttarakhand. At her birth itself, sceptics told her parents that she will never be able to attend normal school. Proving them all wrong, she went on to attend Dehradun’s prestigious girls’ school and did Economics from Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College.

In 2005, she proved that her success was not a mere fluke as she cleared IAS achieving the 56th rank at the all-India level.

The Rajasthan cadre officer’s work speaks volumes about her dedication to serve people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded her for “Banko Bikano” campaign to create a society free of open defecation in which she aimed to change the mindset and behaviour of the people. She led a mission against anaemia and also launched Doctors for Daughters – encouraging doctors to adopt poor and orphan girls.

As Ajmer Collector she organised vehicles and wheelchairs for specially-abled in all constituencies to enable them to vote. The initiative saw 17,000 specially-abled people voting.

Taking all the challenges and discrimination in her stride she said: “Every person will have problems in life. I guarantee you that. But you have to accept them and face them.”