Tamil Nadu Police Brothers Run Free Academy for Rural Government Job Aspirants

On family farmland, brothers nurture rural youths’ dreams of government service

More than 60 students are preparing for examinations at Pudhiya Siragugal in Kappur, where two brothers from the Tamil Nadu Police run a free academy for rural aspirants seeking government jobs.

The academy, established by head constable R.J. Tholkappiyan Sivaraj and constable R.J. Sathyaraj, offers academic coaching, physical training and accommodation without charging the students.

A plot that was once a source of livelihood for a farming family has become a training ground for young people from rural backgrounds.

From farming land to a free academy

Pudhiya Siragugal was established in 2015 in Kappur, a village in Villupuram district, after Sivaraj’s father agreed to make the family’s two-acre farmland available for the initiative.

The academy is also described as operating on a two-and-a-half-acre plot in Kappur.

Sivaraj’s brother and sister later contributed to teaching and training at the academy.

According to Sivaraj, the academy was created to help rural youngsters from financially disadvantaged families secure government employment.

It provides free academic coaching, physical training and accommodation, thereby addressing both the cost of instruction and the living expenses that can prevent aspirants from continuing their preparation.

The campus has a library, gymnasium and rope-climbing facilities for trainees preparing to develop strength, stamina and agility for police service.

It also has separate dormitories for boys and girls.

An initiative shaped by personal experience

Sivaraj is posted at Tirukoyilur, while Sathyaraj serves at Ulundurpet.

Sivaraj holds an M.Phil in Economics, and Sathyaraj is a postgraduate in Physics.

The brothers use their experience in the police force and their academic qualifications to handle both classroom teaching and physical training themselves.

Pudhiya Siragugal grew out of Sivaraj’s own experience of preparing for competitive examinations without paid coaching.

“I was fascinated by the police force since childhood and grew up dreaming of wearing the Khaki uniform one day,” he says.

While pursuing a Master’s degree at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College in Chennai, Sivaraj studied for competitive examinations alongside his course.

He eventually joined the police force.

After completing his initial police training in Pudukottai district in 2009, he was posted to Chennai in 2010.

Alongside his police duties, Sivaraj and his friend Loganathan started the Periyar Academy with a modest investment of ₹10,000.

The academy coached aspirants for government recruitment examinations, particularly those conducted by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board.

According to Sivaraj, all 33 students in the first batch cleared their examinations.

That result encouraged him to expand the initiative to his native Kappur in Villupuram district.

Training for written tests and physical selection

The brothers’ preparation programme covers written examinations as well as the physical requirements involved in certain recruitment processes.

Students attend subject lessons and tests, and also use a gymnasium, rope-climbing facilities and running tracks.

The academy’s integrated programme combines competitive examination preparation with physical fitness, mock tests and additional skills training.

Mohana Arumugam, an aspirant, said students are taught shortcuts suited to different question types and levels of understanding, with the aim of helping them save time during examinations.

The brothers have completed Commando training, which has been particularly useful when they conduct physical training sessions.

Sathyaraj assists Sivaraj with both teaching and physical training.

Together, they help students prepare for government recruitment without placing the burden of coaching and living expenses on their families.

As many as 60 aspirants are now staying at the academy.

Hundreds have secured government jobs

Around 750-800 candidates trained at Kappur have secured jobs in the police, revenue and other departments so far.

The figures reflect the academy’s focus on combining classroom preparation with the physical conditioning required for some government recruitment processes.

The academy’s facilities allow students to continue their preparation while staying on the campus.

Its free accommodation is especially relevant to aspirants whose families may not be able to meet both coaching and living expenses.

Sivaraj said he received offers from people who wanted to lease the fertile land for agriculture or poultry farming.

Leasing the land would have provided an assured income, but he turned down those offers to keep it available for the academy.

That decision kept the family’s land dedicated to training young aspirants rather than to an alternative commercial use.

With over 60 students preparing for examinations at Kappur, Sivaraj hopes to help more rural youngsters enter government service.

For the brothers, however, the academy’s purpose extends beyond helping candidates clear examinations.

They also want those who enter government service to develop a sense of responsibility.

“Our aim is to instil ethical values and a sense of responsibility in those entering public service,” Sathyaraj says.

Source: The Hindu