Kerala’s first tribal woman collector takes charge in Kasaragod

Sreedhanya Suresh has taken charge as the first tribal woman collector in Kerala's Kasaragod district. The 2019 batch IAS officer began her duties on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Collector Arjun Pandian. Sreedhanya, who hails from the Kurichya Scheduled Tribe community in Wayanad, was serving as Commissioner of Food Safety before her recent transfer.

Speaking to the media, she highlighted Kasaragod's tourism potential and pledged to address the district's limitations during her tenure. Sreedhanya secured an impressive All India Rank of 410 in the 2018 UPSC Civil Services Examination, making her the first tribal woman from Kerala to clear the exam. Born in a tribal settlement in Pozhuthana panchayat, her family faced financial constraints, with her father working as a daily-wage laborer and her mother employed under a rural scheme.

The family only gained access to electricity a few years before Sreedhanya joined the civil services. She completed her schooling in Malayalam-medium government institutions and pursued further studies in zoology at Devagiri College and the University of Calicut. Her career path was influenced by a chance encounter with a senior civil servant, which inspired her to pursue a civil service career.

The appointment of Sreedhanya comes as part of a broader reshuffle of 36 IAS officers within the Kerala government.