Supriya Sahu

Ms. Supriya Sahu currently serves as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu. A senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1991 batch, she previously held the position of Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Climate Change, Environment, and Forests, Tamil Nadu. During her tenure in this role, she was instrumental in establishing the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, a pioneering special purpose vehicle and Section 8 not-for-profit organization dedicated to combating climate change in the state. Under her leadership, the department secured funding and collaboration with the World Bank for Tamil Nadu’s coastal restoration mission. With a career spanning over three decades, she has spearheaded several large-scale government initiatives, including Tamil Nadu’s flagship campaign “Meendum Manjapai,” which promotes the use of cloth bags as an environmentally friendly alternative. Ms. Sahu has also served as the Director General of India’s public service broadcaster, Doordarshan.

Her work is widely recognized for its focus on biodiversity and conservation. In her current role, Ms. Sahu continues to prioritize climate change, advocating for the understanding that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected.