Meenakshi Vijaykumar is an Indian academic, firefighter, and one of the first Indian woman fire officer. Currently, she serves as the Joint Director at the State Training Center in Tambaram, Chennai. In 2013, she was awarded The President's Medal for Gallantry for saving two lives, and in 2019, she received The President's Medal for Meritorious Service.
Vijaykumar is also 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 the Indian Fire Service Games held in Nagpur.
Education Vijaykumar completed her schooling at Bharath Senior Secondary School in Chennai.Founder's Day, Alumni meet organised at Bharath school - The Hindu She pursued her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in English Literature at Ethiraj College, Chennai. Additionally, she obtained a PG diploma in Industrial Relation and Personnel Management from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi in 1991. She furthered her education by completing a Bachelor of Education degree from Annamalai University in 1994. Vijaykumar has also undertaken Advanced Diploma courses at the National Fire Service College. She was awarded the certificate of "Graduate Member" by the Institute of Fire Engineers, India in 2008 and received the IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Science and Fire Safety (HL) from the Institute of Fire Engineers in Marton on Marsh, United Kingdom in 2014. She also obtained the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, England in 2014. Additionally, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2017. She has completed her Doctor of Philosophy (P.hD) in FIRE AND ITS MULTIFACETED CONTEXTS in VELS University in 2022.
Career Vijaykumar began her career as an assistant professor in English at Chellamal College in Chennai in 1990. She later worked as a lecturer in Communication Technique at Father Agnel Institute of Management in New Delhi. In 1998, she cleared the Group 1 service exam but had to wait until 2003 for women officers to be included in the fire service. She served as the Divisional Fire Officer in north Chennai for four and a half years and suburban Chennai for one and a half years.'Step Out of Comfort Zone'. New Indian Express. By Priyadarshini S - Chennai 8 March 2014 Throughout her career, she has responded to over 400 fire and rescue calls."Fire in leather goods firm" - The Hindu"Fire at Kilpauk Garden department store complex" - The Hindu Vijaykumar actively participated in the rescue operations during the Tsunami disaster. She was also responsible for organizing fire safety programs in her division. She also played a significant role in organizing fire safety programs in her division and has trained more than 30 batches of fire officers from all over India.Teaching students to tackle disasters .
In recognition of her bravery, Vijaykumar was awarded the President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry in 2013. She frequently gives talks to encourage young Indian women to pursue careers in firefighting."Female Students Urged to Crush Hurdles and Achieve Success". by India Express News Service - Chennai Published: 7 March 2014
She is trained by the SPECIAL TASK FORCE in Sathiyamangalam in handling special disasters and to tackle special situations.
She has holding Additional Director (Administration) In charge in Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department.
Personal life
She is the daughter of P.K. Padhmanathan, former Joint Registrar of Co-operative Society, and Dr. V.S. Krishnakumari, former director of Children's Hospital in Egmore.Former Minister Kakkan's grand daughter Meenakshi Vijayakumar achieves in Fire Service. Successfully Stories of Wo... She is the eldest granddaughter of Kakkan Ji, a former minister.
Honours and awards Year Name of award or honour Awarding Organisation1983Kanchi Shankaracharya Medal (best outgoing student)Ethiraj college13.03.2005Probas Club Award (First women fire officer)Probas Club of Chennai19.12.2005Rotract Club AwardRotract Club of Vepery2005/2006Rotary Award for vocational excellenceRotary Club of Chennai2012Vijay TV AwardVijay TV08.03.2010Ajanta Fine Arts AwardAjanta Fine Arts08.03.2013Madras university AwardMadras university23.07.2003Indian Express AwardIndian Express04.09.2004Dinamalar awardDinamalar2010Gold Medal, Woman's Grand master B Shot putWorld 11th firefighters games Daegu Korea2013Mirchi Pudumai Penn AwardRadio Mirchi2013President's Gallantry AwardGovernment of India2013Excellence in Public ServiceJust for woman magazine07.03.2015Woman Achiever awardVels University, Chennai2015Appreciation Certificate for Meritorious Service during retrieval of Jarghand Girl from SewageThe District Collector, Vellore2015Best Woman in the field of Fire ServiceVels University26.01.2016Appreciation Certificate for dedicated and selfless service rendered while carrying out the Rescue Relief Operations during CHENNAI FLOODS 2015The District Collector, Kanchipuram08.03.2016Eminent Woman Achiever AwardRajalakshmi Institute of Technology, Chennai26.03.2016Woman Achievers AwardsRaindropss, Chennai2017Won Two Bronze Medals for India in BadmintonWorld police and fire games, Los AngelesFeb 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, Nagpur2017Tamil Nadu Government Chief Minister's Anna Medal for Dedicated service in Fire and Rescue Services for unblemished servicesTamil Nadu Government2018Meritorious Service AwardFire & Security Association of India2018"Sree Ratna" Award for dedicated, Innovative, totally involved, service for the communityExnora International2018"Yuga Sakthi Puraskar" Award for Meritorious AchievementThe International Association of Lions Clubs2019SAKTHI AWARD for BRAVERYPudhiyaThalaimurai News Channel2019JFW Awards for Dedication of Public ServicesVBJ JFW Awards2019Won Five Medals for Tamil Nadu (Appreciation from Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister)Indian Fire Service Games, Nagpur2021President's Medal for Meritorious Service for unblemished serviceGovernment of IndiaMARCH 8th 2021Veera Thirumagal Award Received on WOMAN's DAY 2021AIMED - Aachi Masala Proparator Tmt.THELMAMARCH 26th
2022Women Achiever AwardLions club of Madras CathedralMarch 19
2023Phoenix Manithargal AwardNEWS7 Channel
References
External links
What they say – The Hindu
1 dies, 3 rescued as pit caves in at Pallikaranai | Deccan Chronicle