Dr. Alby John needs no introduction, but his journey of becoming an IAS officer is no less than extraordinary.
A 2013-batch IAS officer, Dr. Alby was born and brought up in a lower middle-class family in Piravom in Ernakulam district of Kerala. His father John Varghese was a small-time retail merchant who even today runs a kirana shop. Her mother Salomy Varghese was a nursing assistant in the state health department.
MY FATHER, MY HERO
Despite their own handicaps, Dr. Alby’s parents ensured that their children got proper education. Alby completed his MBBS from Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur. For this, he gives credit to his parents as they never compromised with the education of their children.
Dr. Alby said that he fought against all the odds to be where he is today and he was fortunate to have such supporting parents.
Read more about Alby John: This IAS Officer has Grown Three Mini-Forests in Chennai
Interestingly, youth of today often considers celebrities, political leaders and bureaucrats as their role model but for Dr. Alby, it’s his father who he cherishes the most. It was he how imbibed in his young son that hard work and sincerity would always bring success to him.
Dr Alby was interested in quiz competitions since his school days. When he came to know some of the college seniors who were also part of the quiz cleared the UPSC, that boosted the boy’s confidence. He then decided to give it a try one day.
GOING FOR UPSC
After completing his MBBS, Dr Alby moved to Triventhapuram in 2012 and started to work in a private hospital. At the same time, he started preparing for the UPSC prelims exam.
Dr Alby appeared in the civil services exam in 2012. He cracked the exams on his very first attempt and got All India rank 4.
STELLAR ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr Alby is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner (South) at Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). He is known for his innovative works in the district. He has planted five micro forests (popularly known as Miyawaki forests) and identified land for five more such forests, with an aim to increase the city’s green cover.
The Miyawaki method, a practice of restoring lands with natural forests, was conceptualized and developed by Japanese Botanist Akira Miyawaki.Dr Alby’s other achievements include setting up of an integrated rehabilitation project for transgenders in Devakottai in Sivaganga district, implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility principle in Tuticorin – which involved sending lakhs of single-use plastic wrappers back to the manufacturers – and transforming one of the largest built resettlement sites in India, Kannagi Nagar in Chennai, into an art district.
