IAS Meghashree D.R.,a 2017 batch officer from the Kerala cadre, is currently serving as the district collector of Wayanad, Kerala.Facing one of the biggest challenges, the disaster caused by landslides in her district,her immediate focus is on restoring normalcy to the lives of people affected. “Our focus is on creating micro plans for each family directly or indirectly impacted by the disaster,” she said.

This unique initiative addresses four key areas: Livelihood,health,education and nutrition. Elaborating, she shared an example: “Take the case of Lakshmi, a 42-year-old woman who lost her husband in the disaster. He was the sole breadwinner, so she now needs a stable job. She also has two school-going children whose education must continue uninterrupted, and a bedridden father-in-law who requires ongoing medical care. For families like hers, we focus on ensuring their livelihood, health, education, and nutrition are taken care of.”

What sets Meghashree apart is her ability to act quickly. Rather than waiting for the complete assessment and government intervention, she ensured that a preliminary list of disaster-affected families was created immediately.

Under her leadership, several measures have been implemented to support the community. These include covering tuition fees, arranging school buses for children’s convenience, and providing tailoring machines  for those skilled in tailoring to earn a livelihood.“We will do everything possible at the district administration level to help them return to normalcy,” she stated.

In her four months as District Collector, Meghashree has also launched an  initiative called “Good Morning Collector.” Explaining the motivation behind it, she said, “I come from a very small family where I never had the opportunity to meet higher officials, but I often saw the collector moving in their vehicle, and that inspired me. It motivated me to prepare for the civil services.”

Every Wednesday at 9.30 am, she interacts with students discussing their lives,goals,hobbies and ends the session on a positive note “I encourage them to give back to the community, no matter which field they choose,” she added.