6 days after delivery, this Collector was back at work. Now, a break and a message: ‘It’s not a must’

Wayanad Collector Meghashree D R with her three daughters at her office on Tuesday. (Express photo)

It was a regular working day for Meghashree D R, the Collector of Kerala’s Wayanad district.

On August 24, she attended to her official duties and functions before calling it a day. But instead of heading home, she checked herself straight into a hospital.

The next day, Meghashree gave birth to her third daughter.

Barely six days later, she was back at work, resuming her responsibilities of the District Collector from her camp office.

On Wednesday, the 2017-batch IAS officer will finally proceed on her two-month maternity leave after handing over the charge to her successor, Chelsasini V.

On Tuesday, the District Collectorate office was witness to a heartwarming sight as Meghashree brought along her three daughters, including the newborn, to her farewell ceremony.

Even as she is being hailed for her sense of duty, Meghashree chooses to not make a big deal about her decision.

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“The decision to continue discharging duties of the District Collector even after the delivery was personal. It is not mandatory that one takes maternity leave. The decision depends on an individual, her health and circumstances,” she tells The Indian Express.

Narrating her journey after becoming a mother for the third time, she says, “After the delivery on August 25, I took rest for five days and started working from the Collector’s camp office from September 1. There were several files, which demanded the sanction from the District Collector.”

Recently, Meghashree also held an online interaction with college students as part of her “Good Morning Collector” programme which she used to conduct regularly.

Meghashree is also active on social media, describing herself as an “IAS officer, wife, mother, proud daughter who finds happiness in the simple joys of life.”

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On September 5, she posted a video on her Instagram page, showing a glimpse of her in the field and answering rapid fire questions. When asked about the single biggest game-changer for Wayanad district among tunnel, tourism and tribal empowerment, she answers, “All of it, in a way. Development, empowerment and conservation should go hand in hand.”

Led Wayanad landslide relief operations

A native of Chitradurga in Karnataka, Meghashree assumed office as Wayanad District Collector on July 10, 2024, and led the rescue and relief operations following the landslide that struck the district on July 30.

Since then, she has been actively involved in the rehabilitation of the survivors, and construction of the new township.

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More