R. Sreelekha Explained

R. Sreelekha
Honorific Suffix:IPS
Department:Kerala Police
Birth Date:1960 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Nationality:Indian
Allegiance:Indian Police Service
Serviceyears:33
Rank:Director General of Police
Spouse:Dr. S. Sethunath
Status:Retired
Cadre:Kerala
Batch:1987

R. Sreelekha (born 25 December 1960) is a former police officer in the Indian Police Service and the first Lady Officer of the IPS from Kerala, India.[1] Sreelekha is also an author and now running a successful YouTube channel- “Sasneham Sreelekha” (With Love, Sreelekha) to share her experiences as a police officer. She has also served as managing director for public sector organisations in Kerala. During her tenure in the CBI, she earned the nickname of 'Raid Sreelekha'.[2]

Early life and family

Sreelekha was born on the Christmas day of 1960,[3] as one of the daughters of Prof. N. Velayudhan Nair and B. Radhamma.[4] Sreelekha's father Prof. N. Velayudhan Nair had fought the Second World War as a soldier in the Indian Army, on the side of the Allied Forces. Sreelekha is married to Dr. Sethunath, Prof. Paediatric Surgery, Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram and has one son, Gokul.

Education

Sreelekha completed her schooling from Government Higher Secondary School for Girls, Cotton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram[5] where she was involved in various activities like music, drama, NCC and NSS.

She then went on to complete her bachelor's degree in English Literature at the Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram. She then did her master's at the Institute of English in the University of Kerala. In 2005, while in service, she obtained an MBA in Human Resource Management from IGNOU.

She was awarded the prestigious Chevening Fellowship by the Government of the United Kingdom and she undertook the fellowship studies in King's College, London, Sciences Po Paris, Edinburgh University, United Nations offices in Geneva and Oxford from September to December 2015.

She also attended the Mid-Career Training Program at the London Business School and Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) in 2013.

Career

Early career

Prior to joining the police service, Sreelekha, worked as a lecturer at the Shree Vidyadhiraja College. She also worked for the Reserve Bank of India, as a Grade B Officer and was posted as a Statistical Officer in Mumbai.[6]

Indian Police Service

In January 1987, at the age of 26, Sreelekha became the first woman IPS officer in Kerala Cadre.

After joining the police service, she has served as District Superintendent of Police in 3 districts, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta[7] and Thrissur. Sreelekha also worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation for 4 years as Superintendent of Police in Kerala and DIG in New Delhi.[8] She was promoted to Deputy Inspector General of the Ernakulam Range.[9]

In 2005, Sreelekha was posted as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Rubber Marketing Federation.[10] In June 2007, she was posted as the Managing Director of the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala.[11] Later on, she also served as the Inspector General, Crime Branch.[12] [13] She also served as Addl. DGP, Armed Police Battalions[14] with additional charge for Training.From her posting as ADGP Vigilance,[15] on 15 February 2014, she has been posted as ADGP (Police Home Guards, Community Policing, Gender Justice and Nodal Officer for Nirbhaya).[16] [17]

She was the Organising Secretary of the 5th National Conference of Women in Police, organised by the Bureau of Police Research & Development in July 2012,[18] and is also a strong advocate of gender parity in the Kerala Police force.[19] As ADGP, Sreelekha was asked by Kerala Home Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to conduct an inquiry into the involvement of Kerala Information Commissioner K. Natarajan, who had allegedly persuaded a Dy.S.P of Police to leave out the name of V. S. Achuthanandan from the list of accused in a land scam case.[20] After completion of investigations, Sreelekha recommended the suspension of the Information Commissioner, upon finding that the official had misused his office.[21] R. Sreelekha as ADGP Vigilance & anti-corruption Bureau, chargesheeted the Disproportionate Asset case against IG Tomin J. Thachankary, accused also in several other cases. As retaliation, Thachankary accused Sreelekha for violating norms in visiting Thailand prior to Government Permission.[22]

Sreelekha sought permission from the government to file a defamation suit against Tomin J. Thachankary, and obtained the same.[23] As the Transport Commissioner in Kerala, she reduced the road accidents and fatalities substantially through inclusive road safety measures and in 2014, there were 292 less fatalities in Kerala against the statistics in 2013, which was a record achievement in India. The revenue from taxes and penalties reached an all-time high of Rs 3000 crore during her tenure. Motor Vehicle Department became successful in e-governance, Vahan-Sarathy was completed and an android app called 'Smart trace' was made to detect vehicle duplications and digital record of around 98 lakh vehicles in the state. She also conducted Asia's first ever Road Hackathon with assistance from the World Bank, at Technopark where over 300 participants showcased their technological innovations to better road safety in the State.

For detecting Praveen Murder case in Kottayam and arresting the then - DySP R Shaji and also for getting lifetime imprisonment for him and his accomplices within 90 days of chargesheeting the case, she was awarded the Government's Meritorious Service Award.[24]

She was the officer investigating the Kiliroor sex scandal case, and reported to the CBI court that there was no VIP involved. Thomas Chandy, an MLA and K. P. Mohanan was accused of being linked to the case. However, Sreelekha's deposition to the court was on the basis of the statement from the victim which absolved the two.[25] R.Sreelekha investigated the irregularities in Consumerfed in procuring rice above the market price and for irregularities found in various godowns in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram[26] She was the Transport Commissioner of Kerala from July 2013 to September 2015, during which time, road accidents and fatalities were at an all-time low. Asia's first ever road safety Hackathon conducted by her with assistance from World Bank at Technopark Trivandrum was a huge success.

As ADGP Crime Records Bureau, she completed the Crime & Criminal Tracking networking system and started an interactive website "THUNA" (The Hand U Need for Assistance) for a public interface with police. As Additional DGP, Intelligence, Kerala from June 2016 to January 2017, her proposal to start a counseling center HATS (Help and Assistance to Tackle Stress) for police officers who are suffering from mental stress, to help those who have personal problems such as addiction, issues with senior officers, family problems, financial problems, suicide tendencies etc. has been approved by the Department.[27] [28] [29] [30]

She got promoted to the rank of Director General of Police in September, 2017.[31] [32] From January 2017 to June 2019, she worked as the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services in Kerala. She had introduced several positive changes in the 54 prisons in the State which are now referred to as Correctional Centers. From June 2017 to 1 June 2020, she was the head of a newly created post, "Social Policing & Traffic" in Kerala and was stationed at the Kerala State Police Headquarters.

She took charge as the DGP heading the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services on 1 June 2020, becoming the first 'Woman DGP' of independent charge in Kerala.

She retired on 31 December 2020, as the Director General of the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services, after completing 33 years and 5 months in the service.[33] [34] [35] [36]

Medals and recognition

Selected works

Sreelekha has penned and published 9 books.

She writes regular columns in periodicals and magazines. Her column in Vanitha Magazine, "Marupuram, the Other Side" which is being published now is well appreciated by the readers.

Sasneham Sreelekha- YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/channel/UCup0QqQP2A95jqYkzJuuU9w

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 26 January 2013. President's medal for R.Sreelekha. The Hindu. 26 February 2014.
  2. News: Ullas. A S. Sreelekha IPS @ 25. 28 February 2014. Malayala Manorama. 3 December 2013.
  3. Web site: IPS (Kerala Cadre) Civil List as on 01-01-2012. General Administration Department, Government of Kerala. 26 February 2014.
  4. Web site: R.Sreelekha, IPS. Kerala.com. 26 February 2014.
  5. Web site: Back to school. https://archive.today/20140324154747/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/02/11/stories/2010021151340100.htm. dead. 24 March 2014. The Hindu. 2010-02-11. 26 February 2014.
  6. Web site: Sreelekha IPS. Who am I?. Sreelekha R. 26 February 2014.
  7. Web site: An officer and a writer. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324185639/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2003/05/01/stories/2003050100740200.htm. dead. 24 March 2014. The Hindu. 2003-05-01. 26 February 2014.
  8. News: Failure to curb abkari-official nexus. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324190617/http://www.hindu.com/2000/11/08/stories/0408211v.htm. dead. 24 March 2014. 27 February 2014. The Hindu. 8 November 2000.
  9. News: New appointments in Police force soon. https://web.archive.org/web/20041014021858/http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/28/stories/2004092802530300.htm. dead. 14 October 2004. 26 February 2014. The Hindu. 28 September 2004.
  10. News: Monitoring System to strengthen policing. https://web.archive.org/web/20071205103613/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/18/stories/2005081817700300.htm. dead. 5 December 2007. 26 February 2014. The Hindu. 18 August 2005.
  11. Web site: Public Information Officers. Right to Information, Kerala Government. 26 February 2014.
  12. Web site: Conference of Directors General of Police of Southern States(press). Kerala Police. 26 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130304101207/http://www.keralapolice.org/newsite/news_archive.html. 4 March 2013. dead.
  13. News: Promotions in Police force. 26 February 2014. The Hindu. 25 April 2009.
  14. Web site: IPS officers working as head of departments/offices. General Administration Dept. Government of Kerala. 26 February 2014.
  15. News: Perverts rule streets. 26 February 2014. Deccan Chronicle. 5 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140326105016/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/121105/news-current-affairs/article/perverts-rule-streets. 26 March 2014. dead.
  16. News: Top cops shifted ahead of elections. Times of India. 16 February 2014 . 26 February 2014.
  17. News: Reshuffle in Top Cop Echelons. https://web.archive.org/web/20140326111808/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Reshuffle-in-Top-Cop-Echelons/2014/02/16/article2059731.ece#.Uw5MFPk1eSo. dead. 26 March 2014. 26 February 2014. The New Indian Express. 16 February 2014.
  18. News: National meet of women in police. 27 February 2014. The Hindu. 19 July 2012.
  19. News: Kerala police not women-friendly?. 27 February 2014. Deccan Chronicle. 28 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140817110933/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130128/news-current-affairs/article/kerala-police-not-women-friendly. 17 August 2014. dead.
  20. News: Kerala information commissioner suspended. 28 February 2014. The Sunday Indian. 12 November 2012.
  21. News: Information Commissioner suspended for 'meddling' with police investigation. 28 February 2014. Tehelka. 12 November 2012.
  22. News: Many went on such trips, only I got the stick: Thachankary plea to CAT. 28 February 2014. The Indian Express.. 23 April 2010.
  23. News: Govt for Reviewing Thachankary's Service Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205133625/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Govt-for-Reviewing-Thachankarys-Service-Records/2014/01/18/article2005660.ece?service=print. dead. 5 February 2015. 28 February 2014. The New Indian Express. 18 January 2014.
  24. Web site: Top police officer arrested in Praveen murder case. 25 February 2005 .
  25. News: No VIP involved in Kiliroor case, IG clarifies. https://web.archive.org/web/20140305010852/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/no-vip-involved-in-kiliroor-case-ig-clarifies/211869-60-116.html. dead. 5 March 2014. 28 February 2014. IBN. 14 December 2011.
  26. News: Ramesh: No Bid to Derail Consumerfed Case Probe. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112052246/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Ramesh-No-Bid-to-Derail-Consumerfed-Case-Probe/2014/01/12/article1996272.ece#.UxCl8vk1eSo. dead. 12 January 2014. 28 February 2014. The New Indian Express. 12 January 2014.
  27. Web site: Home.
  28. Web site: Kerala: Woman IPS officer says fellow ADGP harassing her for 29 years. February 2016.
  29. Web site: Kerala IPS officer alleges harassment by colleague. 30 January 2016 .
  30. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/010216/kerala-woman-ips-officer-accuses-colleague-of-harassment-for-29
  31. Web site: Kerala's first woman IPS officer Sreelekha now becomes first woman DGP. 21 September 2017 .
  32. News: R Sreelekha IPS officer: 'Many tried to prove that IPS is not for a woman' | Kochi News - Times of India. The Times of India. 27 September 2017 .
  33. Web site: R Sreelekha, First woman IPS officer in Kerala retires - ET Government.
  34. Web site: R Sreelekha, first woman DGP in Kerala, retires from service. January 2021 .
  35. Web site: Kerala's first woman IPS officer Sreelekha retires after 33 years of service .
  36. News: R. Sreelekha, the first woman IPS officer in Kerala, set to be the State's first woman DGP. The Hindu. 27 May 2020.
  37. Web site: Republic Day Police Medals, 2004 announced. POLICE MEDALS TO 627 PERSONNEL. Press Information Bureau. 26 February 2014.
  38. Web site: Force Wise/State Wise list of medal awardees to the Police personnel on the occasion of Republic Day 2013. President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service 2013. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 26 February 2014.
  39. News: President's police medal for ADGP R Sreelekha IPS. 26 February 2014. Madhyamam. 25 January 2013.
  40. Web site: Top police officer arrested in Praveen murder case. 25 February 2005 .
  41. Web site: Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) and World Bank Group Organize a Hackathon on Road Safety.
  42. Web site: Two-day Kerala Road Safety Hackathon Comes to an End. https://web.archive.org/web/20150826222932/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Two-day-Kerala-Road-Safety-Hackathon-Comes-to-an-End/2015/08/24/article2990067.ece. dead. 26 August 2015.
  43. News: Hackathon for road safety solutions. The Hindu. 6 August 2015.
  44. Web site: IPS officer authors third book. Whispers in the corridors. 27 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324190357/http://www.sureshmehrotra.com/archive/2005/May/14-5-2005.html. 24 March 2014. dead.
  45. Web site: Neerazhikapuram. Amazon. 27 February 2014.
  46. Book: Maranna Doothan. 978-8126419647. Śr̲Īlēkha. Ār. January 2008. Ḍi. Si. Buks .
  47. Web site: Sreelekha IPS. DC Books. 27 February 2014.
  48. Web site: Chakshumathi's Cochin Centre opened. Chakshumathi. 27 February 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324185531/http://www.chakshumathi.org/ChakshumathisCochinCentreopened.html. 24 March 2014. dmy-all.

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