The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Supplement government’s efforts at helping physically challenged people”

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Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

“Supplement government’s efforts at helping physically challenged people”

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister’s appeal to philanthropic institutions

— Photo: M. Vedhan

NEW FACILITY: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the inauguration and dedication to the nation of Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, in Chennai on Saturday. (From left) Niraj Bajaj and S.S. Badrinath, chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, are in the picture.

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, on Saturday called upon philanthropic institutions and industrialists such as Sankara Nethralaya and Birlas to supplement the efforts of the government, as it would be difficult for the government alone to provide all necessary assistance to physically challenged people.

Dedicating the Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology on behalf of Sankara Nethralaya here, the Chief Minister said Tatas had implemented various welfare measures for fishermen in the State without any monetary return.

Their assistance had given fishermen a renaissance. People with wealth should have the heart to help the poor. Sankara Nethralaya’s research centre was a symbol of such philanthropic attitude, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Welcoming the gathering, Chairman Emeritus of Sankara Nethralaya S.S. Badrinath said the institution was a role model for other similar institutions in the country. Over the last 30 years, the institution had built an army of ophthalmologists throughout the country to battle various eye diseases. Soon the institution would open its unit in West Bengal and a branch in Mauritius as a large number of patients were coming for treatment. H.N. Madhavan, Director (Research), explaining the salient features of the new research institute, said it would be a centre of excellence in applied research in ophthalmology, vision and allied medical sciences.

It would enhance the quality of vision research programmes by installing modern equipment for basic medical sciences research work. It had state-of-the-art facilities for educational proceedings, conducting conferences, symposia and meetings to deliberate research findings.

Industrialist Niraj Bajaj thanked Sankara Nethralaya for naming the institute after Kamalnayan Bajaj.

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