published on May 22, 2024 in Insight

Beela Rajesh (IAS) Wiki, Age, Husband, Caste, Children, Family, Biography & More StarsUnfolded

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Husband: Rajesh Das

Age: 53 Years

Education: MBBS

Some Lesser Known Facts About Dr. Beela Rajesh

Dr. Beela Rajesh is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who rocketed to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic when she regularly appeared at press conferences as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu.

She grew up in a highly influential family of Madras. Her father, SN Venkatesan is a retired DGP while her mother, Rani Venkatesan, a native of Nagercoil, was a veteran Congress politician in Tamil Nadu.

After completing her MBBS from Madras Medical College (MMC), she started preparing for the civil services and in 1997, she became an IAS officer after her success in the UPSC examination.

After successfully completing her training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussorie, Dr. Beela got her first posting in the form of the Assitant Collector in Bihar’s Bhojpur district.

Since her induction into the prestigious Indian Administrative Service, Dr. Beela has served at various key positions in the governments of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu.
Beela Rajesh in Her Office

The Tamil Nadu government appointed Dr. Beela Rajesh as the Health Secretary of the state on 17 February 2019.

Her appointment as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu was no less than a surprise to many in the state as she had never experienced a portfolio this crucial.

Some officials credited her elevation to the post of Health Secretary to her medical background. According to a retired bureaucrat, her medical education helped her to get such a prestigious post, he said,
As someone who understands the subject, Dr Beela Rajesh, will have a firm grasp over what is happening.”

Before her elevation to the post of the Principal Secretary of Health in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Beela served as the Commissioner for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy in Tamil Nadu.
Beela Rajesh in an official meeting

Within a few days of her joining as the Health Secretary, a number of challenges started coming into her way. The first major challenge was nine maternal death due to infected blood, and she had to face public outrage. The second challenge was when Dr. Beela had to confront the doctors who failed to record rape after they examined the body of a deceased Adivasi girl in the Dharmapuri district. Thereafter, she faced the statewide strikes of doctors and nurses. In an interview, a senior journalist explained the challenges faced by Dr. Beela, he said,
These are big challenges for an IAS officer who has just come to the post. But she handled it with an iron fist. An inquiry was launched into the maternal deaths, cases were filed against the doctors who failed to record rape, and medical practitioners who failed to report to duty were transferred. She made it clear that breach of protocol is not okay.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when she started appearing at press conferences, it was her first interaction with media personnel at such a large scale. Some journalists even complained about her impatient attitude to answer the questions asked by media personnel. One such journalist, while talking about her behaviour, said,
She has never had to handle the media or such a large battalion of officers under her. And this sometimes reflects in her impatient attitude towards any questions about her decisions or work during this pandemic.”
Beela Rajesh at a Press Conference During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Some officials working in close quarters with her department also hail her approach to deal with situations like COVID-19. A source in the Chief Minister’s office of Tamil Nadu says –
Her job is to give the statistics and she is doing that. I agree that she does not come across as accessible but that is just her nature. She is known to be curt and limited within bureaucratic circles, even to those that she has to report to.”

A few subordinates working with Dr. Beela’s have also talked about her impatience. One such subordinate of Dr. Beela, on the condition of anonymity, said –
We follow madam’s orders. There is no question of doing it any other way.”

A retired bureaucrat while praising Dr. Beela, said –
As an administrator, Dr. Beela Rajesh is very efficient, no doubt. Any issue that comes to her notice is immediately taken care of. However her colleagues have mentioned that they find the atmosphere difficult to work in as the Secretary is not as approachable as her predecessors.”

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