Dr. Beela Rajesh is an Indian official who has taken the lead in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as Tamil Nadu’s health minister. She frequently appears at Tamil Nadu government press conferences to give updates on the COVID-19 situation.
Wiki/Biography
Beela Rajesh was born on Saturday, November 15, 1969 (53 years old in 2022) in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. After completing high school, she completed her MBBS from Madras Medical College (MMC). After completing her MBBS, Beela started preparing for the Civil Services Examination. In 1997, she passed the UPSC examination and became an IAS officer.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 3″
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
Family and caste
Beela Rajesh was born into an influential family in Madras.
Parents and siblings
Beela Rajesh’s mother, Rani Venkatesan, is from Nagercoil and was a senior politician of the Tamil Nadu Congress Party and also served as an MP. Beela’s father, SN Venkatesan, is a retired Inspector General of Police.
Beela Rajesh’s mother Rani Venkatesan
Relationships, husbands and children
In 1992, Dr. Beela Rajesh married Rajesh Das, an Indian police officer from Odisha.
Beela Rajesh and her husband Rajesh Das
The couple has two daughters – Pinky and Preethu.
Beela Rajesh (far left) with her husband and daughter
Profession
Dr. Beela Rajesh is a 1997 batch Tamil Nadu IAS officer. She was initially posted to Bihar after completing her training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. Later, she was posted to Jharkhand before being transferred back to her home state of Tamil Nadu. After serving as Assistant Collector in Bhojpur district of Bihar, she went on to hold different positions in the governments of Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu such as Deputy Collector, Chengalpattu, Fisheries Commissioner and Town and Country Planning Commissioner. She served as Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Tamil Nadu before becoming Principal Secretary, Tamil Nadu Health Department.
Beela Rajesh in her office
On June 12, 2020, she assumed office as Principal Secretary, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, Tamil Nadu, for a term till June 19, 2023. On June 19, 2023, she was appointed as Energy Minister, Tamil Nadu.
Professional Name
- Assistant Collector: Bhojpur, Bihar (1 September 1997 to 1 March 2000)
- Deputy Minister of Finance (March 1, 2000 – July 1, 2000)
- Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu; Unspecified Area (11 July 2000 to 1 January 2001)
- Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu, Unspecified Area (1 January 2001 to 24 May 2001)
- Special Officer: Tamil Nadu (Multi-cadre Delegation) (24 May 2001 to 24 August 2002)
- Additional Director: Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Department (24 August 2002 to 21 June 2003)
- Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Municipal Administration and Urban Construction (June 21, 2003 – July 24, 2003)
- Director: Ministry of Education (July 25, 2003 – August 24, 2003)
- Joint Secretary: Chief Minister’s Office (25 August 2003 to 9 February 2004)
- Deputy Commissioner: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (10 February 2004 to 31 December 2005)
- Collector: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (January 1, 2006 to May 2, 2007)
- Managing Director: M/o Textiles Handloom Exp Promotion Cl (HEPC) Chennai (May 2, 2007 to May 2, 2014)
- Executive Director: M/o Textiles Handloom Exp Promotion Cl (HEPC) Chennai (2nd May 2007 to 1st May 2012)
- Joint Secretary: Jharkhand (May 3, 2014 to May 19, 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)
- Specialist: Medicine/Health and Family Welfare, Chennai (December 24, 2018 to February 16, 2019)
- Minister of Health: Tamil Nadu (February 17, 2019 – present)
Facts/Trivia
- On February 17, 2019, there was a major reshuffle in the Indian Administrative Service bureaucracy with Dr. Beela Rajesh being appointed as the Tamil Nadu Health Minister.
Beela Rajesh is welcomed by colleagues in the office
- Soon after she assumed the office of Tamil Nadu Health Minister, she started facing challenges in the state’s health system. First, she faced public wrath over the deaths of nine women due to blood infection, then, in April 2019, she had to deal with doctors not recording rape after examining the body of a dead Adivasi girl in Dharmapuri district, following which doctors and nurses in Tamil Nadu went on strike. Talking about these challenges faced by Dr. Beela Rajesh, a senior journalist in the state said:
For a freshly minted IAS officer, it was a huge challenge. But she handled it with an iron fist. An inquiry was launched into maternal deaths, a case was filed against the doctor who had not recorded the rape, and medical staff who had not reported for duty were transferred. She made it clear that breaking the rules would not be an option.
Beela Rajesh visits a medical facility in Tamil Nadu
- When Birla was appointed Tamil Nadu’s health minister, many in the state were surprised as she had never managed such an important post.
- She has been a frequent presence at Tamil Nadu government press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been praised and criticised for her handling of the pandemic in the state. A senior TV journalist said of her impatient attitude when answering questions during media interactions,
She has never had to deal with the media or such a large police force. This is sometimes reflected in her impatience with any questions about her decisions or work during the pandemic.”
Beela Rajesh attends a press conference during the COVID-19 pandemic
- While a source in the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s office admitted that the state had some shortcomings in handling the pandemic, he praised Dr Beela Rajesh’s communication skills and said she had done a great job.
Her job is to provide statistics, which she does. I agree that she doesn’t come across as approachable, but that’s just her nature. In bureaucratic circles, she is known for her brevity and restraint, even to those she has to report to.”
- Many in the Tamil Nadu government believe that her medical background helped her get the job of health minister. A retired official said in an interview about the matter,
As someone who knows the subject, Dr. Beela Rajesh will have a firm grasp of what is going on. ”
- Dr. Beela Rajesh was known for her short and impatient responses. Talking about her attitude, one of Beela’s subordinates said:
“We follow Madam’s orders. There is no other way.”
- One retired official said of her less-than-tolerant and unapproachable personality:
As an administrator, Dr. Beela Rajesh is undoubtedly very efficient. Any issues that come to her attention are dealt with immediately. However, her colleagues mentioned that they find the working atmosphere difficult because the secretary is not as approachable as her predecessor. ”
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education