The Hindu : Front Page : Jayalalithaa's pat for Dr. Shanta

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Friday, Aug 05, 2005

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Jayalalithaa's pat for Dr. Shanta

Ramya Kannan

BEST WISHES: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa presenting a bouquet to Magsaysay Awardee Dr.V.Shantha, at the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: V.Ganesan

CHENNAI: If the Ramon Magsaysay award was an unforgettable honour for Dr. V. Shanta, then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's greetings when she met her on Thursday was nearly as prestigious for the eminent oncologist.

Congratulatory messages had started pouring in ever since the announcement was made by the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation on Monday. Yet, Ms. Jayalalithaa's warmth and her assurance to help the Cancer Institute gladdened Dr. Shanta's heart the most.

She met Ms. Jayalalithaa in her chamber on Thursday and was greeted with a shawl, flowers and heartfelt wishes.

Speaking to The Hindu later, Dr. Shanta said the Chief Minister was extremely appreciative that a person from Tamil Nadu had been conferred the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service.

"She said she was very proud and happy that the award had been given to me and I told her that it was really for the institution," Dr. Shanta said.

She then briefed Ms. Jayalalithaa about some minor problems the Institute currently faced and requested these be looked into and a solution found quickly.

It was then that Ms. Jayalalithaa promised her that the State Government would try to help the Institute in whatever way possible.

Dr. Shanta also called on Governor Surjit Singh Barnala at Raj Bhavan. Mr. Barnala congratulated her on the honour bestowed on her.

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