She Walked 4 Km to School. Now, She Is Kerala’s First Collector from a Tribal Community

Kasaragod has a new district collector, and her appointment marks a significant milestone for Kerala.Sreedhanya Suresh, a 2019-batch IAS officer from the Kurichiya community, has taken charge as the district’s new collector. Her appointment makes her the first district collector from Kerala’s tribal community, adding another remarkable chapter to her already inspiring journey.She took charge on Wednesday, succeeding Arjun Pandian, who has been transferred as director of the Agriculture Department and Farmers Welfare Department. From a Modest Home to the IASSreedhanya grew up in a tribal settlement in Pozhuthana panchayat in Wayanad. Her father, Suresh, worked as a daily wager, while her mother Kamala took up work under the rural employment scheme. Education remained a priority in the family.Growing up with her elder sister Sushitha and younger brother Sreerag, Sreedhanya travelled nearly four kilometres on foot every day to reach school. The family lived in a modest home with basic amenities, but her parents ensured that their children had every opportunity to study.Her determination eventually took her to Devagiri College, where she studied zoology. She later completed a master’s degree in applied zoology from Calicut University.When a Meeting Changed Her DirectionAfter completing her studies, Sreedhanya joined the Tribal Tourism Project in Wayanad as an assistant. It was during this phase that a meeting with then Mananthavady sub-collector Sriram Sambasiva Rao sparked her interest in the civil services.She moved to Thiruvananthapuram for UPSC coaching and took on the demanding preparation journey alongside thousands of other aspirants. Her hard work paid off when she secured 410th rank in the 2018 Civil Services Examination and was allotted the Kerala cadre.A New Chapter in KasaragodHer administrative journey began as assistant collector in Kozhikode. She later served as sub-collector in Perinthalmanna, inspector general of the Registration Department and commissioner of Food Safety. Now, Kasaragod becomes her newest responsibility. Sreedhanya is also the second woman to serve as Kasaragod district collector, following Bhandari Swagat Ranveerchand, who held the post from 2021 to 2023.Speaking after taking charge, Sreedhanya said she was happy to begin her first district collector posting in Kasaragod. She highlighted the district’s potential in tourism, agriculture and industry and said her focus would be on development while addressing its challenges.Her journey from a remote tribal settlement to the collector’s office is a powerful reminder of how education, opportunity and perseverance can open doors once thought far beyond reach.