Trailblazer: Sajitha, the first Excise woman inspector in Kerala

Shoranur: Kerala has been a front-runner in terms of educating and empowering women. Several Keralite women have made their mark in various walks of life both within the state and outside over the years. Some of them have been pioneers in their chosen fields. A young mother, named Sajitha, from Shoranur in Palakkad district, has now joined the league of such trailblazers as she took oath at the Excise Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday. 

She became the first woman Excise inspector in Kerala when she took charge on Wednesday. Sajitha has taken charge as the Inspector at the Excise Circle office at Tirur in Malappuram district. She was earlier a Civil Excise Officer. 

Her achievement is even more noteworthy as she got the post by securing the first rank in the Excise Inspector Exam held by the Kerala Public Service Commission.

This was the first exam to be held after the PSC decided to recruit women, too, as excise inspectors.

When applications were invited for the excise inspectors’ posts this year, Sajitha decided to give it a shot when she saw that the earlier condition that women were not eligible had been removed. She not only cleared the exam but also did in style, by securing the first rank.

Her husband is Aji of Chuduvalathur in Shoranur. Her parents, who are based at Thaikattussery in Thrissur, are retired Reserve Bank employee Damodaran and K U Meenakshi, headmistress of CNN School in Cherpu. 

Sajitha's daughter Indhu, is a Class VII student of Carmel CMI School at Kallipadam, Shoranur.