Sreedhanya Suresh, belonging to the Kurichia community in Kerala has become the first ever person belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community to emerge as a rank holder in the civil services. She will be taking charge as Assistant Collector (in training) in Kozhikode. News of her achievement sent waves of joy and pride not just among the city’s residents but the entire state.
Sreedhanya secured 410th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination held in 2018. She cleared the exam in her third attempt.
Second of the 3 children born to Suresh and Kamala both of whom are daily wage workers, she studied in a local school in Wayanad district. She graduated from St. Joseph College in Devagiri, Kozhikode acquiring a degree in zoology. She completed her post-graduation in Applied Zoology from Calicut University.
Interestingly, she will be working under Mr. S. Sambasiva Rao who was her inspiration to become a civil service officer. Currently, she is undergoing training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy in Mussoorie and will take charge once the lockdown gets lifted and after completing her 14-day mandatory quarantine period.