CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa honoured Dr Shanthi Ranganathan, honorary secretary of TT Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation and Swami Dayananda Saraswathi Educational Society, by presenting her with Avvaiyar award of the Tamil Nadu government for 2015, on Tuesday.
The award carries Rs 1 lakh, a gold medal weighing eight grams and a citation.
Dr Shanthi Ranganathan was chosen for this award in appreciation of her services to the those addicted to alcohol and to their families for the past 33 years. She thanked the Chief Minister for the honour.
The award was instituted in 2012 to encourage women who excel in social reforms, women’s development, communal harmony, arts, science, culture, journalism and administration etc. Dr Shanthi Ranganathan has post-graduate degree in Social Service Administration and a doctorate in rehabilitation of those addicted to alcohol besides global level accreditation for rehabilitation of alcohol addicts.
In 1992, she was honoured with the Padma Shri. In 1999, the United Nations presented her the UN Vienna Civil Society award. Ministers B Valarmathi, K C Veeramani and many senior officials were present on the occasion.
Educationist Mrs Y G Parthasarathy received the Avvaiyar Award in 2012. The next year, Dr V Shanta, chairperson, Adyar Cancer Institute was honoured with this award. Dr K Mathangi Ramakrishnan, chairperson of the Child Trust Medical Research Foundation, Nungambakkam was presented with the award in 2014.