Kozhikode: Sreedhanya Suresh, the first woman from Kerala’s tribal community to crack civil service examination, assumed the office of the assistant collector in Kozhikode district on Thursday. She is a 2019 batch IAS officer.

On June 11, Thursday, the young IAS officer arrived at Kozhikode district collectorate and took charge before district collector Seeram Sambasiva Rao.

She had been in quarantine in Thiruvananthapuram after she had returned from training. 

“I find my appointment during COVID-19 outbreak as a huge responsibility. It will help me to learn and understand more about the administration. Kozhikode is like my second home. I learned many lessons from here and there are some elements which influenced me to think about some subjects. I am stepping towards a big responsibility. I am obliged to do my duty honestly,” said Sreedhanya.

She decided to pursue her career in civil service after having an experience while working at tribal department in 2016. Kozhikode district collector Seeram Sambasiva Rao who was Wayanad sub-collector during that period also turned a motivator in her journey.