Meet Sreedhanya Suresh, Kerala Tribal Girl Who Walked 4 Km To School, Now Appointed District Collector | Education and Career News
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Sreedhanya Suresh entered the IAS in the 2019 batch and went on to serve in several administrative roles before assuming charge as Kasaragod Collector in Sept 2026.
Sreedhanya secured an All India Rank of 410 in the 2018 UPSC Civil Services Examination. (File Photo)
Sreedhanya Suresh’s journey from a tribal settlement in Kerala’s Wayanad to the post of District Collector is marked by perseverance, financial hardship and a strong focus on education. A member of the Kurichiya tribal community, Suresh grew up in a family where her parents worked as daily wage labourers but remained committed to ensuring that their children received an education.
As a child, she reportedly walked nearly four kilometres to attend school. She studied in Malayalam-medium government schools before pursuing higher education in zoology. She completed her undergraduate studies at Devagiri College in Kozhikode and later obtained a postgraduate degree from the University of Calicut.
Suresh was raised in a tribal settlement in Pozhuthana Panchayat of Wayanad. Her father, Suresh, worked as a daily wage labourer, while her mother, Kamala, worked under the rural employment scheme. Despite limited household resources and basic amenities, her parents gave considerable importance to their children’s education.
Her career direction changed after she began working in tribal development and tribal tourism in Wayanad. During this period, she came into contact with then Mananthavady Sub-Collector Sriram Sambasiva Rao. Observing his interaction with people and the responsibilities associated with the administrative post reportedly inspired her to pursue the civil services.
She subsequently began preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and attended coaching classes in Thiruvananthapuram. Her first attempt in 2017 was unsuccessful. She returned to the examination the following year and cleared it in 2018.
Even after clearing the written examination, Suresh faced financial difficulties while preparing to travel to Delhi for the interview. In an earlier interview, she reportedly said she had around Rs 40,000 with her for the trip, with part of the money borrowed from friends and some assistance coming from well-wishers, reported News18 Hindi.
Her efforts eventually paid off. She secured an All India Rank of 410 in the 2018 UPSC Civil Services Examination. She was subsequently allotted the Kerala cadre as part of the 2019 IAS batch.
Her success was also significant for Kerala’s Kurichiya community, as she became the first person from the community to clear the civil services examination.
Sreedhanya Suresh began her administrative career as an Assistant Collector in Kozhikode and later served as Sub-Collector in Perinthalmanna. Over the course of her career, she also held senior responsibilities in Kerala’s Registration Department and served as Food Safety Commissioner.
The Kerala government’s IAS Civil List dated April 1, 2026, listed her as Additional Director (General), Tourism, with responsibilities associated with the Samuhika Sannaddha Sena and Kerala Youth Leadership Academy. She was also listed as Project Director of the Kerala State Transport Project.
Appointed District Collector In Sept 2026
In September 2026, Sreedhanya Suresh took another major step in her career when she was appointed District Collector of Kasaragod. She assumed charge on September 16.
Her appointment has been described as a significant milestone as she became the first woman from a Scheduled Tribe community in Kerala to serve as a District Collector.
After taking charge, Suresh highlighted the scope for development in Kasaragod’s tourism, agriculture and industrial sectors. She also stressed the need to understand the district’s challenges and coordinate with government departments and local stakeholders to address them.
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Ask News18Sreedhanya Suresh assumed charge as the District Collector of Kasaragod on September 16, 2026, following her appointment by the Kerala government.
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