What is your current role like?
My current role involves food and consumer protection under one ministry and co-operation under another. Food involves procurement and ensuring that supplies reach the 37000+ public distribution system shops which benefit 2.14 crore families. Consumer protection is about making people aware of their rights at the district and the state level fora.

We have almost 1.9 crore people registered in various co-operatives, whether it is the primary agriculture or at the highest level Apex Cooperative, District Central Cooperative and District Central Banks.

What do you consider your achievements?
Achievements belong to Governments and policies and we as bureaucrats contribute to policies and implementation. When I was in the health sector, we improved outcomes such as reduction of infant mortality, maternal mortality and so on. These are implemented through the State Health Society or National Health Mission.

My present post is about ensuring good quality rice and food products and improving the godowns and ambience of ration shops. In the co-operation sector, it’s also ensuring adequate loans to people. Last year, loans totaling 84000 crores were disbursed and deposits touched 70000 crores. These things require constant guidance and getting various policy decisions implemented. It’s about working as a team. Public distribution system shops are going for ISO.

You have worked with various Governments and managed to achieve a lot? How do you handle this?
It’s our duty to work with whichever elected government there is and put our best foot forward and they find a suitable place for us. Our goal is to be bridges between the government and people. I encourage officers to do more field inspection, handle challenges and be quick to respond and address grievances.

You have handled many types of crises adeptly. Can you tell us about it?
The Government has always given me the opportunity to work in crisis, whether it was the Kumbakonam fire tragedy or when the tsunami hit Nagapattinam. Similarly, during Chennai floods, from the health aspect we worked to prevent any epidemic and then COVID. These are guided by experts. In order to address the field challenges effectively, one must take advantage of both the government and NGOs.

As far as tragedies are concerned, we must go much beyond just compensating people financially. There’s a huge psycho-social component, the scar of the tragedy, so you must understand people to address their needs. Disaster cannot be treated as mere statistics, it’s different for different people. For one, it’s the loss of life, for another it’s the loss of a home or livelihood or maybe psychological impact.

What would you consider your biggest achievements?
My biggest achievement is my 8 ½ years in the health sector that involved understanding people better, increasing college seats, nursing institutions and human resources. In one year, with Central-state support, we built 11 medical colleges, a 4000-crore project which was not easy. Working on public health brings lot of satisfaction. I would like to credit the many faceless grassroot workers who carry out what the Government and officers want to implement.

What about your experience?
The Government gave me the opportunity to serve the Chennai Corporation earlier when the present Honourable CM was Mayor during his final 2 years as Commissioner. With subsequent governments, I served as Collector in 4 districts for a period of 5 years, especially in Salem, where there were social issues. Thanjavur is an agrarian belt, where we had to address the issues of farmers.

In Nagapattinam, almost 6065 people died and nearly 18000 houses had to be rebuilt, livelihoods restored, not necessarily for fishermen, but also agriculturalists, labourers, traders and so on. There was a huge gamut of activities and a lot of NGO and government co-ordination.

During the 2015 flood for instance, many came to help from other states but doesn’t this create more chaos?
We do damage assessment on the field and identify needs such as sanitation, medical etc and then co-ordination. Now, there’s more systematic inter-agency co-ordination, there is a separate wing for volunteers under the Commissioner of Revenue & Administration & Disaster Mitigation where I had worked in 2020.

Where do our disaster management strategies stand in comparison to advanced countries?
Disaster management has improved, but in parallel, extreme weather events have also increased, Both climate change and rapid urbanisation contribute to water logging. There is a difference between stagnation, inundation, water logging and flooding. We also have control rooms and institutions, national disaster management authorities, state and district level management authorities and district level collectors. The focus must be on disaster reduction and responding to people who continue to live with risk due to various challenges. There is a lot of improvement.

Should students and the community be given some education on how to respond in a disaster?
Everybody must be aware of the hazards and vulnerabilities around them and involving both students and community is very important. They must know their roles, escape routes, centres where they can shelter etc and some can contribute to relief and protection. For example, in Samiyarpet, the UNDP and Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction was implemented at Government Level.

What are the personal qualities that have made you successful?
In my 32 years of service, I have been focused about being accessible to people, understanding and addressing their issues and ensuring government policies are reaching them.

What was your motive in joining the civil services?
Though there is position and power, the real satisfaction is in being able to satisfy people’s requirements especially with orphans and children.

What are your interests?
Cricket and tennis.

What do you do for stress relief?
I take short breaks.

How do you stay fit?
I take opportunities to walk.

Who is your inspiration?
I always felt deeply inspired by our late President Abdul Kalam whom I have interacted with.

You are always well-dressed, what’s your favourite style?
I go with formals in all official functions but love to experiment with colour at other times. I do prefer contrast as far as shirts are concerned and am also comfortable with Indian style of veshti or kurtas.

Where was the best vacation you’ve ever taken and why?
The places in Uttarakhand such as Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag and Mukhteswar near Nainital are some places we loved. In Tamil Nadu too, I like hillstations such as Kodaikanal, Nilgiris and Yercaud and equally love beaches especially Mahabalipuram. Abroad, I really loved visiting Switzerland and also Venice in Italy.

Tell us about your wife Krithika and how she supports you?
She has been a pillar of support on one end and also a fiercely independent person pursuing her passion without compromising the needs of the family. On the work front, she has always involved herself in community needs wherever we were posted. She is empathetic which makes my task easier and very understanding to the demands of my work and schedules.

What is your son currently into and what kind of a parent are you? Strict or more like a friend?
He is doing his MD in General Medicine. We both hit it off more like friends. He has a very nice sense of humour which keeps all of us in a happy frame of mind.