| Highlights | - Served as an Additional Collector in Vellore district before joining the central government.
- Was managing director of the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS).
- Led Operation Blue Mountain in 2002, introducing one of India's first bans on single-use plastic.
- In 2003, coordinated a massive tree planting campaign in Nilgiris that set a Guinness World Record.
- Appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2014.
- Became Director General of Doordarshan in February 2016.
- Served as the first woman Vice-President followed by Acting President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union in 2018.
- Returned to Tamil Nadu in 2019, taking on an Additional Chief Secretary role in key departments.
- In 2021, became Additional Chief Secretary for the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests.
- Led several large-scale environmental initiatives in 2024, focusing on sustainability and climate resilience.
- Received the UNEP Champions of the Earth Award in 2025 for exceptional leadership in climate action.
- 1991 batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
- Currently serves as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, heading the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests.
- Under her leadership, Tamil Nadu notified over 7,000 hectares as new Reserve Forests, secured 19 additional Ramsar sites (total 20), and established seven new wildlife sanctuaries, including India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve and Slender Loris Sanctuary.
- Launched Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC), a non-profit for climate action including coastal resilience, urban heat mitigation, and Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
- Initiated Cool Roof Project, painting 200 green schools for passive cooling, benefiting 12 million people.
- Led Operation Blue Mountain in 2000 as District Collector of Nilgiris, introducing one of India's first bans on single-use plastic, years ahead of global initiatives.
- Credited with shaping India's Community Radio movement, including its inclusion in the 12th Five Year Plan, organizing National Community Radio Sammelan, and publishing Community Radio Compendium.
- Under her leadership, Tamil Nadu notified over 7,000 hectares as new Reserve Forests, established 65 new reserve forests, secured 19 additional Ramsar sites (total 20), and established seven new wildlife sanctuaries, including India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve and Slender Loris Sanctuary.
- Planted over 100 million trees and doubled mangrove cover across Tamil Nadu.
- Introduced a 10-month mentorship program for women to enhance understanding of climate change and enable climate action initiatives.
- Spearheaded Meendum Manjapai campaign to encourage adoption of cloth bags and phase out plastics.
- Transformed 10 climate-smart villages and launched statewide missions for green energy and nature conservation.
- Received the UNEP Champions of the Earth Award in 2025 for pioneering leadership on subnational climate action, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable cooling in Tamil Nadu.
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