Alappuzha: Dr Renu Raj, IAS, took charge as the 53rd collector of Alappuzha district. This is her maiden posting as District Collector.

The new collector was accompanied by her parents and sister as she arrived at the Alappuzha District Collectorate on Thursday morning.

Additional District Magistrate J Moby welcomed Dr Renu Raj as she arrived at 10.30 am.After signing the attendance book she sought blessings from parents by touching their feet.

Her first official engagement was attending a meeting of the high-ranking officials at the collectorate. District Development Commissioner K S Anju, deputy collectors and the ADM were among those who took part in the meeting.

Dr Renu Raj belongs to the 2015 IAS batch. She stood second in the Civil Services Examination in 2015. She cleared the Civil Services Examination after completing the MBBS from the Kottayam Medical College.

She was appointed the district collector while posted as the Director of the Urban Affairs Department and the AMRUT MISSION.

The new collector is a native of Malankunnam, near Chanaganacherry, in Kottayam district. Her sister Dr Ramya Raj is a Junior Resident Doctor at the Alappuzha Medical College. Her father rajakumaran Nair is a former official of the KSRTC. V N Latha is her mother.

Currently, 10 out of the 10 districts in Kerala have women collectors.