Manivannan Ponnaiah

Major Manivannan Ponnaiah, (born 27 November 192) is an officer with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of the Karnataka cadre. He was the first IAS officer to also serve in the Indian Army. He is known for his effective handling of the labour-related issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic as the Principal Secretary for the Labour Department and IPR (Information and Public Relations) Department. In addition to his work in these areas, Ponnaiah has had a distinguished career in public service, making significant contributions to society through his various important positions within the government. 
Ponnaiah has pursued a mid-career Masters in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is known for his transparent administration style, demonstrated through the installation of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in his chamber with live online feeds, as well as his efforts to combat unauthorized constructions, building code violations, and illegal encroachments.
== Personal Background ==
Manivannan Ponnaiah, was born on 27 November 1972 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Manivannan is married to Salma Fahim and they have two children. The family resides in Bengaluru, Karnatka, India.
== Education ==
Ponnaiah, holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Trichy. He has pursued a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
== Career ==
Ponnaiah, is known as "Demolition Man" for his efforts to bring down unauthorised structures, including buildings with violations of building laws and illegal encroachments by influential people, as deputy commissioner of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC).
As the managing director of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (BESCOM), he utilised social media platforms like Facebook and Telegram to address BESCOM-related issues from the public. While serving as the Managing Director of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, he temporarily converted the control room into a flood relief room open 24x7 to aid those affected by floods in Chennai.
In 2017, Ponnaiah organised a three-day international conference, "Quest for Equity – Reclaiming Social Justice, Revisiting Ambedker", under the leadership of the Government of Karnataka to mark the 126th birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar in Bengaluru. He is also known for his unscheduled visits to schools and hostels under the social welfare department, where he would interact with students and address any issues they face during his overnight stays.
== Awards and recognition ==
Ponnaiah has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to public service. In 2013, he was awarded the "Namma Bengalurean of the Year" award in recognition of his outstanding work and impact in the city of Bengaluru. This prestigious honour is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of those they serve.
== Professional positions and accomplishments ==
Throughout his career, Ponnaiah, has held a number of important positions and accomplished much in the field of public service. 
Here is a list of Major Manivannan IAS's professional positions and the dates he held them:
* Commissioner of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation: 1999-2006
* Commissioner of Shivamogga: 2007-2010
* Managing Director of BESCOM: 2010-2013
* "Chief Project Officer" for KSHIP: 2013-2018
* Managing Director of KUWSDB: 2015-2018
* Secretary of State for Social Welfare Department: 2016-2017
* Secretary of State for Department of Information and Public Relations: 2017-2018
Category:1972 births
Category:People from Madurai