Mina Swaminathan, Distinguished Chair, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Gender and Development, died in her Teynampet residence on Monday morning. She was 88 years old at the time. According to an MSSRF source, she died of natural causes.
She was designated Chairman of the Study Group on the Development of the Preschool Child by the Central Advisory Board of Education in 1970. She was a teacher-educator and writer on early childhood education (ECE). The committee’s report, which was delivered in 1972, established the foundation for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program, which was implemented in 1975 and was a watershed moment in the field of early childhood care and development.
Mrs. Swaminathan has also educated hundreds of teachers and trainers and authored three teacher manuals. She was a founding member of the Centre for Women’s Development Studies in New Delhi in 1980 and served as its Vice-Chairman from 1987 to 1993. She was an activist strongly involved in the practice and study of gender equality. On Monday, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin paid his respects to her at her house.
Mina Swaminathan survived by Husbands and Three Daughters
Mrs. Mina Swaminathan is survived by her husband, agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan, and their three daughters: Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist, World Health Organization; Madhura Swaminathan, professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, and Chairperson, MSSRF; and Nitya Rao, director, NISD, University of East Anglia, UK. On Monday afternoon, the final rites will be performed.
Governor offers his condolences.
M.S. Swaminathan and his family have received heartfelt condolences from Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi. A tweet from Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, said, “An eminent teacher educator, and prolific writer who will always be recognized for her commitment to gender equality, woman, and child development.”