Vashitha was born on 26th February, 1967, as the fourth child of Mr.John Manuel and Mrs.Jebamathy Manuel, the great grand children of Rev.J.Joshua.  She did her school studies at the Duthie Girl’s Higher Secondary School, NAGERCOIL, and stood first in the school in the Higher Secondary Examination during 1984.  She got admission in the Government Stanley Medical College, Madras, in the same year and secured her M.B.B.S. Degree.   She got married to Vijayanand on 16th May, 1990.  Vijayanand is the son of Mr.P.Murukiah a retired Accounts Officer of the Accountant General’s Office, Trivandrum and Mrs.Rosalind Ida Murukiah, a retired Headmistress from Government High School, Trivandurm.  Murukiah is the son of Mr.Ponnumuthu Nadar of Mankantuvilai near Karungal.  Rosalind Ida is the daughter of Mr.D.Nesamony, retired First Class Magistrate, and Mrs.Mary Nesamony who is the sister of Dr.G.M.Samuel.   Vijayanand studied in the St.Joseph’s High School, Trivandrum, and secured the second rank in the SSLC Examination during 1972.  He joined the Government Arts College, Trivandrum for his Pre-Degree Course and the University College for his B.A.Degree.  He was ranked First in the Kerala University B.A.Degree Examination in 1977.  He also secured the University First Rank in the M.A.Degree Examination held in 1979.  During 1996 he took his M.Phil. Degree in Applied Economics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, in which he was ranked Second.   Vijayanand entered into the I.A.S. Cadre in 1981 having secured the seventh rank in the All India Level Examination.  He was ranked First among the candidates who sat for the examination from south India.  He took his training in the National Academy of Administration, Missouri.  On completion of training he was allotted to Kerala and served for short periods as Assistant Collector (1982-1983), Sub Collector (1983-1985), District Planning Officer (1985-1987), and Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Project (1987-1988).  He then served as the District Collector, Quilon from 1988-1991.  During 1991 he took over as Labour Commissioner, Kerala and served till 1992.  He was Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development under the Government of India.  He was under study leave from 1994-1996.  Since then he is serving as the Secretary to the  Local Self Government, Government of Kerala.  He has specialised in Panchayati Raj, SC/ST Development and Poverty Alleviation.   Vashitha joined as a Medical Officer in the South Kerala Medical Mission and served there for a short period.  She then joined the Kerala Government Service.   They are blessed with a son named Nithish who was born on 1st November,1993.  He is studying in the Loyala School, Trivandrum.   Vijayanand and Vashitha with their son are living in their own house at Trivandrum.