MANAGING TRUSTEE
Dr.Girija Vaidyanathan, IAS (Retd.)
Trustee
Dr. Girija Vaidyanathan, IAS (Retd.), served as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu from December 2016 to June 2019, becoming the fourth and longest‑serving woman to hold the post. A 1981 batch officer, she distinguished herself early by securing top ranks in the IAS examination and graduating in Physics from IIT Madras, later earning a Ph.D. in Health Policy from the same institution. Over 38 years of service, she held key positions in Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Nutrition, Environment, Pollution Control, Civil Supplies, School Education, and Land Administration. She is widely recognized for her pioneering work in maternal and child health, strengthening Tamil Nadu’s public health system and modernizing land records. Her career exemplifies the rare blend of administrative excellence and academic scholarship.
Early Life & Education- IAS Rank: 1st among women, 9th overall in 1981 exam.
- Academics: M.Sc. Physics, IIT Madras (1981); Ph.D. in Health Policy, IIT Madras (2011).
- Her doctoral work was pioneering in analysing equity in public health expenditure at sub‑regional levels.
- Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu (2016–2019): Longest‑serving woman in the role.
- Health & Family Welfare Secretary: Twice held the post (2001–02, 2011–12), introducing innovative maternal and child health schemes.
- Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission: Led Tamil Nadu to national recognition as best performer among non‑EAG states.
- District Collector, Madurai: Spearheaded the Arivoli Iyakkam literacy mission.
- Land Administration: Modernized land records, drafted the land acquisition rules under the new act, and recovered encroached lands for public use.
- Public Health: Reduced maternal and infant mortality, expanded universal health coverage, and improved primary healthcare access.
- Governance: Known for systematic, rigorous implementation of policy reforms.
- Academia: Continues to be an active member of national and international academic consortia in the field of health systems research.
- NGO Boards: Serves on various committees/boards/trusts of NGOs working in the field of health, education as well as women and child welfare such as Voluntary Health Services, Cancer Institute, Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust, SCARF, Public Health Foundation of India, Madras Institute of Development Studies and Indian Maritime University.
- Recognition: Honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award by IIT (Madras) for contributions to governance and public health.
Dr. Girija Vaidyanathan’s career illustrates how a civil servant can bridge policy, governance, and academia to deliver transformative outcomes. Her leadership style—quietly reassuring yet deeply impactful—has left a lasting imprint on Tamil Nadu’s governance and public health systems.