Rajeev Sadanandan Biography 
Rajeev Sadanandan is an Indian administrative officer from the state of Kerala, best known for contributions towards health and rural development sectors. He is an Indian bureaucrat, healthcare policy-maker and officer. He retired from government services in 2019. Rajeev is best known for his effective measures during 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala and also Kerala floods the same year. He currently serves as the Additional Chief Secretary of Kerala, for the Department of Health and Family Welfare. He is an author of several published books.
Rajeev Sadanandan was born in Attingal of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala on 28 May 1959. His schooling was done from the prestigious Sainik School Kazhakootam. He holds master’s degree in two subjects – English and Philosophy in applied economics. After clearing IAS, he started his professional career as Sub-Collector of Kollam. Till his retirement in 2019 at the age of 60, he served in different departments of government of Kerala, of which his contributions towards the field of health is immensely huge. He serves as Additional Chief Secretary, heads Kerala's Department of Health and Family Welfare since 2016.
He served as the District Collector of Malappuram and Thrissur districts in the 1990s. During this tenure he initiated a Self-help group program for rural development which later paved to the formation of state-level Kudumbashree program as well as the National Rural Livelihood Mission at the national level. He has served as a consultant at National AIDS Control Organisation, National Programme Officer and National Technical Consultant. As an administrator he gained immense admiration during his last few years in service, which include the control of Nipah Virus outbreak as well as floods, both a few months before his retirement.
Published: August 24, 2019
Updated: August 24, 2019
