R Santhanam IAS

Distinguished Visiting Fellow

BIO

Shri R Santhanam IAS (retd) is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at The Peninsula Foundation. He belongs to the 1972 batch of IAS, Tamilnadu cadre. He holds Post Graduate degrees in Chemistry and Public Administration and an M.B.A. from University of Hull in UK.
He held several important posts in the government including Collector of Ramnad dt., Secretary to the Departments of Finance, Transport, Planning and Development, Commercial Taxes, Secretary to Governor among others.
As Vice Chairman of CMDA, he was instrumental in designing the second master plan for Chennai city and ensured infrastructural development. His outstanding contribution as Commissioner, Relief Operations during drought in 2003-04, floods in 2005 and unprecedented Tsunami in 2004 got him wide appreciation in national and international media. He was a member of the Central Administrative Tribunal for five years.