Dr Jayanti Ravi
Secretary, Auroville Foundation, Tamil Nadu.
Dr. Jayanti Ravi is a scientist, civil servant, writer, speaker, educator, performing vocalist, and thinker. With a master’s degree in nuclear physics from the University of Madras, an MPA from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in e-governance, she has authored books, published in international journals, guided doctoral students, and also been a visiting faculty at Harvard University. Her professional experience includes serving as DDO in Sabarkantha, as a collector in Panchmahals, and as director of the National Advisory Council with the Prime Minister’s Office.
As principal secretary and commissioner, rural development, Gujarat, she has championed the Swachh Bharat Mission for rural sanitation in the state. Her innovative and creative multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving has led to major transformational outcomes across various sectors.
Jayanti was both health commissioner and principal health secretary in Gujarat from July 2017 to September 2019 In her tenure with the health department, Jayanti was faced with the challenges of Zika virus outbreak in 2017 and in 2018, as well as crimean congo hemorrhagic fever outbreaks every year and swine flu outbreaks every year. She has widely been perceived as the administrative face of Gujarat government’s fight against Covid-19.
In March 2019, Jayanti had also published a book ‘Sanity in Sanitation’, launched in Ahmedabad by the then governor, OP Kohli. The book, which explores the scope of the Swachh Bharat Mission, also has a front cover recommendation by the Prime Minister as well as a ‘Prime Minister’s Message’ penned by PM Narendra Modi.
In Jan 2021, Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare department of Gujarat government, was appointed as Secretary, Auroville Foundation, Tamil Nadu, on deputation for three years.
