Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin presented the best District Award to Tiruvallur Collector Dr. Alby John Vergheese for girl child protection initiatives in the district on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2023. Tiruvallur Collector and 2013 batch IAS officer Alby John received the first prize for improving child sex ratio for the year 2023. The Collectors of Nagapattinam and Namakkal were given second and third prizes respectively.

After getting the prestigious award, sharing the happiness on on social media Dr Alby John tweeted, “Humbled and honoured to be receiving the Best District Award and Gold medal from the Hon’ble Chief Minister for the Girl Child Protection initiatives taken in Tiruvallur district, on International Women’s Day. This is a great inspiration for our team to improve further.”

Gracing the occasion, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that despite attaining economic freedom, there is still a notion among men that women are subservient to them and this has to be changed somehow, while participating in the International Women’s Day celebrations at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai.

“I don’t think women have been freed fully though they are holding many posts. They might have attained economical freedom. But mentally, there is a notion that women are subservient to men. We have to change this notion somehow,” he said.

WHO IS IAS ALBY JOHN

Dr. Alby John needs no introduction, but his journey of becoming an IAS officer is no less than extraordinary. He assumed charge as the District Collector of Tiruvallur District on 16 June, 2021.

He cracked the civil services exam in 2012 on his very first attempt with All India 4th rank. 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.

Despite their own handicaps, Dr. Alby’s parents ensured that their children got proper education. He 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.

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 once told Indian Masterminds that he fought against all the odds to be where he is today and he was fortunate to have such supporting parents.

He has worked 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.