Meenakshi Vijayakumar

Meenakshi Vijayakumar was born in 1965 in Chennai, India. At present she is working as Deputy Director(Headquarters) in Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, Chennai. She has received The President's Medal for Gallantry in 2013 for saving two lives. She has also received The President's Medal for Meritorious Service in 2019. She is the first Indian Fire Officer to have Won medals in the World Firefighter's Games and World Police and Fire Games held in South Korea, Australia, USA and also Indian Fire Service Games held in Nagpur. [1]

Education

Meenakshi Vijayakumar did her schooling in Bharath Senior Secondary School, Chennai.[2] She completed her under graduation and post graduation in English Literature from Ethiraj College, Chennai. She completed her PG diploma in Industrial Relation and Personnel Management, from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi in 1991. She completed her Degree of Bachelor of Education from Annamalai University in 1994. She has also completed Advanced Diploma courses in National Fire Service College. She was awarded certificate of "Graduate Member" by Institute of Fire Engineers, India in 2008 and was awarded IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Science and Fire Safety (HL) by Institute of Fire Engineers, Marton on Marsh, United Kingdom in 2014. She was also awarded NEBOSH International General Certificate in occupational Health and safety by National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, England in 2014.

Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Institute of Fire Engineers
Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Parade

Career

Meenakshi Vijayakumar started her career as Assistant Professor in English at Chellamal College, Chennai in 1990. She worked as a lecturer in Communication Technique at Father Agnel Institute of Management, New Delhi. She cleared Group 1 service exam in 1998, but had to wait until 2003, before it was decided that women officers could be included in fire service.

She worked as the Divisional Fire Officer of north Chennai for four and a half years and suburban Chennai for one and a half years[3][4].She has attended more than 400 fire and rescue calls.[5][6][7][8] She took part in the rescue operations in the Tsunami disaster.[9] She was also responsible for organizing fire safety programs in her division.[10] She has trained more than 30 batches of fire officers from all over India.[11]

In 2013 she was awarded the President’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry.[12]She gives talks encouraging young Indian women to pursue careers.[13]

Opening Ceremony- 2018 National Fire Games, Nagpur
On Sports Event
On Spots Event
Medals Received - National Fire Games
Appreciated by DGP, TNFRS
Appreciated by DGP, TNFRS
Meenakshi vijayakumar at work
Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Chennai Flood Rescue 1
Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Chennai Flood Rescue 2
Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Chennai Flood Rescue 3
Meenakshi Vijayakumar at Chennai Flood Rescue
Appreciated by Honorable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu
Appreciated by Honorable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu
during Firefighting
With DGP C.K.Gandhirajan.jpg
Appropriated by DGP George, TNFRS.jpg
Appropriated by DGP Natraj.jpg

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[[File:Flood 2015.jpg]|thumb|Flood 2015.jpg]]

Personal details

She is the daughter of late Mr P.K. Padhmanathan, former Joint Registrar, Co-operative society and Dr. V.S. Krishnakumari, former director, Children's Hospital, Egmore.[14]

Honours and awards
YearName of award or honourAwarding Organisation
1983Kanchi Shankaracharya Medal (best out going student)Ethiraj college
13.03.2005Probas Club Award (First women fire officer)Probas Club of Chennai
19.12.2005Rotract Club AwardRotract Club of Vepery
2005/2006Rotary Award for vocational excellenceRotary Club of Chennai
2012Vijay TV AwardVijay TV[15][16]
08.03.2010Ajanta Fine Arts AwardAjanta Fine Arts
08.03.2013Madras university AwardMadras university
23.07.2003Indian Express AwardIndian Express
04.09.2004Dinamalar awardDinamalar
2010Gold Medal, Woman's Grand master B Shot putWorld 11th firefighters games Daegu Korea
2013Mirchi Pudumai Penn AwardRadio Mirchi
2013President's Gallantry AwardGovernment of India[17][18]
2013Excellence in Public ServiceJust for woman magazine
07.03.2015Woman Achiever awardVels University, Chennai
2015Appreciation Certificate for Meritorious Service during retrieval of Jarghand Girl from SewageThe District Collector, Vellore
2015Best Woman in the field of Fire ServiceVels University
26.01.2016Appreciation Certificate for dedicated and selfless service rendered while carrying out the Rescue Relief Operations during CHENNAI FLOODS 2015The District Collector, Kanchipuram
08.03.2016Eminent Woman Achiever AwardRajalakshmi Institute of Technology, Chennai
26.03.2016Woman Achievers AwardsRaindropss, Chennai
2017Won Two Bronze Medals for India in BadmintonWorld police and fire games, Los Angeles
Feb 2018First Woman Fire Officer to have Won Five Medals in National Sports Meet - three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medalNational Fire Games, Nagpur
2017Tamilnadu Government Chief Minister's Anna Medal for Dedicated service in Fire and Rescue ServicesTamil Nadu Government
2018Meritorious Service AwardFire & Security Association of India
2018"Sree Ratna" Award for dedicated, Innovative, totally involved, service for the communityExnora International
2018"Yuga Sakthi Puraskar" Award for Meritorious AchievementThe International Association of Lions Clubs
2019President's Medal for Meritorious Service for unblemished serviceGovernment of India
2019SAKTHI AWARD for BRAVERYPudhiyaThalaimurai News Channel
  • At her rescue work
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar at University of Madras at Work 1
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar at University of Madras at Work
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar at University of Madras
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar awarded by S Janaki
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar Family
  • Meenakshi Vijayakumar with APJ Abdul Kalam
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References
  1. "Rediff E Magazine". First Woman Fire Officer "Meenakshi Vijayakumar".
  2. Founder's Day, Alumni meet organised at Bharath school - The Hindu
  3. "Major fire in Manali polymer unit". The Hindu.
  4. 'Step Out of Comfort Zone'. New Indian Express. By Priyadarshini S - Chennai 8 March 2014
  5. "Fire in leather goods firm" - The Hindu
  6. "Fire in Perambur". The Hindu.
  7. "Fire at Kilpauk Garden department store complex" - The Hindu
  8. "Fire destroys warehouse in Manali". The Hindu.
  9. "major rescues by TNFRS".
  10. "Firecracker shops told to strictly adhere to safety norms". The Hindu.
  11. Teaching students to tackle disasters.
  12. "Woman fire officer to get President's Gallantry Medal". The New Indian Express.
  13. "Female Students Urged to Crush Hurdles and Achieve Success". by India Express News Service - Chennai Published: 7 March 2014
  14. Former Minister Kakkan's grand daughter Meenakshi Vijayakumar achieves in Fire Service. Successfully Stories of Wo... Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Woman's Day Special". The Hindu.
  16. EVENTFAQS - Star Vijay establishes a new IP in Woman Achievers Awards
  17. "Woman fire officer to get President's Gallantry Medal". The New Indian Express.
  18. Staff Reporter. "Padma Shri for city doctor". The Hindu.


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