Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Government of Kerala
NAME – K.K. Shailaja
PROFESSION– Politician, Teacher
BORN – 20/11/1956
PLACE OF BIRTH – Kannur district, Kerala
FATHER’S NAME – K. Kunthan
MOTHER’S NAME – K. K. Shantha
SPOUSE – K. Bhaskaran
SIBLINGS – N/A
CHILDREN – 2
EDUCATION –
Bachelor of Science in Physics from Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur
Bachelor of Education from Visvesvarayya College
POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS/PARTY– Communist Party Of India (Marxist)
OFFICIAL WEBSITE – N/A
REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT–
Shailaja was invited by the United Nations to participate in a panel discussion on United Nations Public Service Day 2020 for her efforts to fight COVID-19 in Kerala.
Vogue Magazine featured her as a “Vogue Warrior”. She was selected as the world’s ‘Top thinker’ of 2020 thereby pushing the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern to the 2nd position. She has been named Shailaja as one of the world’s most influential women of 2020 by The Financial Times.
AWARDS – N/A
BACKGROUND –
Having completed her Bachelor of Education, Shailaja gave 7 years of her life helping students in achieving their goals. She became a Physics teacher and guided her students not only in her subject but also in helping the community as a whole. She is highly regarded for her unwavering commitment and strong work ethic. No one can that she has excellent leadership skills.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Physics from N. S. S. College, Mattanur and obtained her Bachelor of Education from Visvesvarayya College in 1980. She served as a high school physics teacher at Shivapuram High School in Kannur.
After a seven-year service, she retired in 2004 and became a full-time politician. Having worked as a Health Minister, she didn’t budge her unwavering commitment and strong work ethic. Her leadership during the Nipah and COVID-19 outbreaks was widely appreciated. She received international attention for her leadership in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala and flattening the curve
MAJOR INITIATIVES– N/A
CAREER TIMELINE/ POSITIONS HELD –
1996- Elected as the MLA from Kuthuparamba constituency
2006- Elected as the MLA from Peravoor constituency
2016- Elected as the MLA from Kuthuparamba constituency
2016- She served as the Minister of Health, Social Justice, and Woman and Child Development (Kerala)
2021- Chief Whip of CPI(M) in Kerala Legislative Assembly
CONTROVERSIES/CASES-
Shailaja, who won international accolades as Kerala’s health minister for her skillful handling of the covid pandemic situation in Kerala, has failed to a seat in Pinarayi Vijayan’s new cabinet.
She won her seat in the assembly elections by a record margin of more than 60000 votes. People of Kerala who referred to her as ‘ Rockstar Health Minister’ and ‘Covid Slayer’ are very disappointed by the government’s decision.