Shanthi Ranganathan

Shanthi Ranganathan
Born Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation Social worker
Years active Since 1980
Known for Anti substance abuse activities
Spouse(s) T. T. Ranganathan
Awards Padma Shri
Avvaiyar Award
UN Vienna Civil Society Award

Shanthi Ranganathan is an Indian social worker and the founder of T. T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation, a non governmental organization managing the TTK Hospital, a medical centre based in Chennai for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug and alcohol addicts.[1] She is the fist recipient of the UN Vienna Civil Society Award[2] and a recipient of the 1992 Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India for her contributions to the society.[3]

Biography

Born in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and married to T. T. Ranganathan, the grandson of T. T. Krishnamachari, former Finance Minister of India, Ranganathan was widowed in 1979, at the age of 33, when her husband died of health issues related to alcohol addiction.[4] This prompted her to focus her attention to the problem of substance abuse and addiction. In order to prepare herself, Shanthi, holder of a master's degree in social service, joined the Hazelden Addiction Treatment Centre, Minneapolis for training in de-addiction programmes and started a day care centre in one of the family properties in Chennai, in 1980. The modest beginning, with a few assistants, grew to become the T. T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation, which now includes TTK Hospital, a 65 bedded treatment facility, the first Indian hospital dedicated for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction.[1][5] The institution works in coordination with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime[6] and is a participant of the anti-substance abuse programmes of the Government of India.[2] She is also associated with the Swami Dayananda Saraswati Educational Society, and sits on its Board of Directors.[7]

The Government of India included her in the 1992 Republic Day Honours list for the civilian award of the Padma Shri.[3] In 1999, when United Nations instituted the United Nations Vienna Civil Society Award,[8] she was selected for the award for her Outstanding Contributions in the Fight Against Drug Abuse and Crime, making her the first recipient of the award.[2] She is the recipient of the Avvaiyar Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the year 2015.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "A Centre of Hope". Rediff. 21 May 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "INSTITUTIONS". Frontline. 1999. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Conversation with Shanthi Ranganathan". Addiction. 100 (11): 1578–1583. August 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01197.x.
  5. ↑ "The Genesis". TTK Hospital. 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime". United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Board of Directors". Swami Dayananda Saraswathi Educational Society. 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "UN TO PRESENT AWARD TO GRASSROOTS LEADERS IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, CRIME, TERRORISM". UNIS. 3 December 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Avvaiyar Award for Shanthi Ranganathan". Indian Express. 8 March 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.

Further reading

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