Dr. Beela Rajesh is an Indian bureaucrat who came to the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu. She became a regular face of the Tamil Nadu government to give updates about the COVID-19 pandemic in press conferences.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Beela Rajesh was born on Saturday, 15 November 1969 (age 53 years; as in 2022) in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. After his senior secondary school education, he completed his MBBS in Medicine from Madras Medical College (MMC). After MBBS, Beela started preparing for civil services. In 1997, she passed the UPSC exam and became an IAS officer.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 3″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
family and caste
Beela Rajesh belongs to a very influential family of Madras.
parents and siblings
Beela Rajesh’s mother, Rani Venkatesan, a native of Nagercoil, was a senior Congress politician in Tamil Nadu who also served as an MLA. Beela’s father SN Venkatesan is a retired Director General of Police.
Rani Venkatesan, mother of Beela Rajesh
Relationships, Husband and Children
Dr. Beela Rajesh was married to Odisha IPS officer Rajesh Das in 1992.
Beela Rajesh with her husband Rajesh Das
The couple has two daughters – Pinky and Preethu.
Beela Rajesh (far left) with her husband and daughters
livelihood
Dr. Beela Rajesh is a 1997 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre. After completing his training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, he was initially posted to Bihar. Later, he was posted in Jharkhand, before getting a transfer to his hometown, Tamil Nadu. After her first posting as Assistant Collector in Bhojpur district of Bihar, she went on to work in various positions in the governments of Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, such as Sub-Collector of Chengalpattu, Fisheries Commissioner and Municipal Commissioner. Country planning. Before her posting as Principal Secretary of Health in Tamil Nadu, she served as the Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy in Tamil Nadu.
Beela Rajesh in his office
On 12 June 2020, she took over as the Chief Secretary in the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department of the state of Tamil Nadu, a position she held until 19 June 2023. On 19 June 2023, he was appointed as the Energy Secretary of Tamil Nadu.
major designation
- Assistant Collector: Bhojpur, Bihar (1 September 1997 to 1 March 2000)
- Under Secretary: Finance Department (1 March 2000 to 1 July 2000)
- Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu; District not specified (11 July 2000 to 1 January 2001)
- Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu, District Not Specified (1 January 2001 to 24 May 2001)
- Special Officer: Tamil Nadu (Inter-Cadre Deputation) (24 May 2001 to 24 August 2002)
- Additional Director: Social Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu (24 August 2002 to 21 June 2003)
- Deputy Secretary: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (21 June 2003 to 24 July 2003)
- Director: Education Department (25 July 2003 to 24 August 2003)
- Joint Secretary: Chief Minister’s Secretariat (25 August 2003 to 9 February 2004)
- Deputy Commissioner: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (10 February 2004 to 31 December 2005)
- Collector: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (1 January 2006 to 2 May 2007)
- Managing Director: Ministry of Textiles Handloom Exp Promotion CL (HEPC) Chennai (2 May 2007 to 2 May 2014)
- Executive Director: Ministry of Textiles Handloom XP Promotion CL (HEPC) Chennai (2 May 2007 to 1 May 2012)
- Joint Secretary: Jharkhand (3 May 2014 to 19 May 2014)
- Joint Secretary: Tamil Nadu (19 May 2014 to 29 May 2017)
- Commissioner: Town and Country Planning, Tamil Nadu (30 May 2017 to 23 December 2018)
- Commissioner: Medicines/Health & Family Welfare, Chennai (24 December 2018 to 16 February 2019)
- Health Secretary: Tamil Nadu (from 17 February 2019 – present)
Facts/General Knowledge
- On 17 February 2019, Dr. Beela Rajesh was appointed as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu in a major reshuffle of IAS officers.
Beela Rajesh welcomed by a colleague in his office
- Soon after joining as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu, he started facing challenges in the state’s health system. First, he faced public outrage after nine maternal deaths due to infected blood and then, in April 2019, he faced doctors who booked him for rape after examining the body of a dead tribal girl in Dharmapuri district. Failed to do so, following which doctors and nurses went on strike in Tamil Nadu. Talking about these challenges, senior journalist of the state, Dr. Beela Rajesh says-
These are big challenges for an IAS officer who has just joined this post. But he handled it with toughness. Investigations into maternal deaths were initiated, cases were registered against doctors who failed to record rape, and physicians who failed to report for duty were transferred. He clarified that violation of protocol is not okay.
Beela Rajesh visiting a health facility in Tamil Nadu
- When Beela was appointed as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu, it came as a surprise to many in the state, as he had never held such an important department.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became a regular face of the Tamil Nadu government at press conferences. He received both praise and criticism for his handling of the pandemic in the state. Talking about his impatient attitude in answering questions during his media interaction, a senior television journalist said,
He never had to handle the media or such a large battalion of officers under his command. And this sometimes reflects his impatient attitude towards any questions about his decisions or work during this pandemic.”
Beela Rajesh at a press conference during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Although a source in the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s office admitted that there have been some shortcomings while handling the pandemic in the state, he praised Dr. Beela Rajesh for his communication skills and said he has done his job efficiently. He says,
Her job is to give data and she is doing the same. I agree that she doesn’t seem approachable but that’s her nature. She is considered cold and limited within the bureaucracy, even to those to whom she has to report.
- Many in the Tamil Nadu government believe that his medical background helped him get the post of Health Secretary. Talking about this in an interview, a retired bureaucrat said,
As someone who understands the subject, Dr. Beela Rajesh will have a strong grasp of what is going on.”
- Dr. Beela Rajesh is known for her curt replies and impatience. Talking about his attitude, one of Beela’s subordinates says,
We follow madam’s orders. There is no question of doing it any other way.”
- Talking about his less tolerant and unapproachable personality a retired bureaucrat says,
As an administrator, Dr. Beela Rajesh is very efficient, there is no doubt about that. Whatever matter comes to his notice, it is given immediate attention. However, his colleagues have mentioned that he finds the environment difficult to work in as the Secretary is not as accessible as his predecessors.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn