Former Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu gets Rajasthani-Tamil Seva Award for public service

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu receives Rajasthani-Tamil Seva Award 2025 for public service, honoring exceptional contributions.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu received the Rajasthani-Tamil Seva Award 2025 in the category of public service on Sunday (March 16, 2025).

The Rajasthani Association Tamil Nadu, on behalf of the Rajasthani community in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, instituted the award to honour individuals and institutions who have made an exceptional contribution for the good of the people. Justice K.R. Shriram, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, presented the awards in the presence of S. Gurumurthy, editor, Tughlaq.

During his speech, Mr. Irai Anbu said he wanted the association to use the prize money of ₹2 lakh, attached to the award, for the welfare of students living in the city’s slum resettlement tenements. 

C.D. Sanath Kumar, founder, Cambridge/Indus Valley Senior Secondary Schools, received the award in the category of education for his 35-year contribution in the field.

M. Yoganathan received the award in the category of environmental sustainability. For 36 years, Mr. Yoganathan has planted and nurtured 35 lakh saplings, turning barren lands into green havens and inspiring thousands to take up the cause. His journey began as a bus conductor in Coimbatore, where he started distributing free saplings to passengers. His impact has been nationally recognised, with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning him in Mann Ki Baat.

The Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society received the award in the social welfare category for its work in transforming rural lives since 1979. For 45 years, the society has been a pillar of holistic rural development, reaching out to 1,000 villages across 12 districts in Tamil Nadu, in education, healthcare, sanitation, water conservation, and skill development.

A six-member jury, chaired by Mr. Gurumurthy, reviewed each nomination. The jury included: N. Ravi, Director, Kasturi and Sons Limited; Padma Subramaniam, renowned bharatanatyam dancer; N. Sugalchand Jain, industrialist and philanthropist; P. Balagurusamy, eminent academician and former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University and former UPSC member; Praveen Tatia, ex-officio president, Rajasthani Association Tamil Nadu and member, Minority Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu.