# Meenakshi Vijayakumar

Meenakshi Vijaykumar is an Indian academic, firefighter, and 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. 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. Throughout her career, she has responded to over 400 fire and rescue calls. 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.
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.
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. She is the eldest granddaughter of Kakkan Ji, a former minister.

## Honours and awards

| Year | Name of award or honour | Awarding Organisation |
| 1983 | Kanchi Shankaracharya Medal (best outgoing student) | Ethiraj college |
| 13.03.2005 | Probas Club Award (First women fire officer) | Probas Club of Chennai |
| 19.12.2005 | Rotract Club Award | Rotract Club of Vepery |
| 2005/2006 | Rotary Award for vocational excellence | Rotary Club of Chennai |
| 2012 | Vijay TV Award | Vijay TV |
| 08.03.2010 | Ajanta Fine Arts Award | Ajanta Fine Arts |
| 08.03.2013 | Madras university Award | Madras university |
| 23.07.2003 | Indian Express Award | Indian Express |
| 04.09.2004 | Dinamalar award | Dinamalar |
| 2010 | Gold Medal, Woman's Grand master B Shot put | World 11th firefighters games Daegu Korea |
| 2013 | Mirchi Pudumai Penn Award | Radio Mirchi |
| 2013 | President's Gallantry Award | Government of India |
| 2013 | Excellence in Public Service | Just for woman magazine |
| 07.03.2015 | Woman Achiever award | Vels University, Chennai |
| 2015 | Appreciation Certificate for Meritorious Service during retrieval of Jarghand Girl from Sewage | The District Collector, Vellore |
| 2015 | Best Woman in the field of Fire Service | Vels University |
| 26.01.2016 | Appreciation Certificate for dedicated and selfless service rendered while carrying out the Rescue Relief Operations during CHENNAI FLOODS 2015 | The District Collector, Kanchipuram |
| 08.03.2016 | Eminent Woman Achiever Award | Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology, Chennai |
| 26.03.2016 | Woman Achievers Awards | Raindropss, Chennai |
| 2017 | Won Two Bronze Medals for India in Badminton | World police and fire games, Los Angeles |
| Feb 2018 | First Woman Fire Officer to have Won Five Medals in National Sports Meet - three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal | National Fire Games, Nagpur |
| 2017 | Tamil Nadu Government Chief Minister's Anna Medal for Dedicated service in Fire and Rescue Services for unblemished services | Tamil Nadu Government |
| 2018 | Meritorious Service Award | Fire & Security Association of India |
| 2018 | "Sree Ratna" Award for dedicated, Innovative, totally involved, service for the community | Exnora International |
| 2018 | "Yuga Sakthi Puraskar" Award for Meritorious Achievement | The International Association of Lions Clubs |
| 2019 | SAKTHI AWARD for BRAVERY | PudhiyaThalaimurai News Channel |
| 2019 | JFW Awards for Dedication of Public Services | VBJ JFW Awards |
| 2019 | Won Five Medals for Tamil Nadu (Appreciation from Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) | Indian Fire Service Games, Nagpur |
| 2021 | President's Medal for Meritorious Service for unblemished service | Government of India |
| MARCH 8th 2021 | Veera Thirumagal Award Received on WOMAN's DAY 2021 | AIMED - Aachi Masala Proparator Tmt.THELMA |
| MARCH 26th  2022 | Women Achiever Award | Lions club of Madras Cathedral |
| March 19 2023 | Phoenix Manithargal Award | NEWS7 Channel |