The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Spreading rays of hope

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Spreading rays of hope

Staff Reporter

MMRT 95, Sankara Nethralaya, launch community initiative

— PHOTO: R. RAGU

FOR A CAUSE: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand (right) hands over the ‘Rays of 95’ plaque to Sankara Nethralaya chairman emeritus S.S. Badrinath. MMRT 95 member Amrit Kalra (left) and Sankara Nethralaya chairman Lingam Gopal are in the picture.

CHENNAI: Service organisation Madras Metro Round Table 95 (MMRT 95), in association with Sankara Nethralaya, launched ‘Rays of 95’, a community initiative for eye surgery, here on Monday.

Launching the programme, world chess champion Viswanathan Anand commended MMRT 95 for the initiative. “They have chosen a very good partner in Sankara Nethralaya,” he said.

Mr. Anand, who was accompanied by wife Aruna and parents, said he was honoured to be part of the function.

Sankara Nethralaya president and chairman emeritus S.S. Badrinath said he was extremely happy that a service organisation had come forward to participate in such an initiative.

As part of the ‘Rays of 95’ programme, Madras Metro Round Table 95 seeks to provide for surgeries such as retinal detachment to deserving patients through Sankara Nethralaya over a year.

Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya Lingam Gopal spoke on the growth of Sankara Nethralaya and the institution’s plans, particularly in the area of research.

Amrit Kalra and V. Govind of MMRT 95 said they partnered with Sankara Nethralaya as it was known for its service and high quality treatment at affordable costs.

Following the launch, obliging to Dr. Badrinath’s request, Mr. Viswanathan Anand played a rapid game of chess with an MMRT 95 member. “We draw inspiration from people like you,” Dr. Badrinath told Mr. Anand.

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