NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 21
Arriving on cycle at 6 am to an official’s residence to discuss about the day’s planning, was the trademark of late T V Antony, former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, recalls Dr C K Gariyali, former Additional Chief Secretary here on Thursday.
Those were the days, bureaucrats competed each others in organising family planning campaigns and awareness programme under the dynamic guidance and leadership of Antony, said Gariyali at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, at an event to remember his contributions, especially his work in population control and development.
She said “Mr Antony had so much passion for his work that he used to come to my house early in the morning to ask what ideas I had to implement the family planning mission effectively.” She said, that the campaigns also created awareness on health and nutrition that they were able to overcome the stigma on consuming papaya and encouraged the consumption of moringa.
Prof Swaminathan, Founder, MSSRF recalled TV Antony “as a human being with high integrity and commitment to national well-being. He was focussed on the outcome of what he was doing.” Prof Swaminathan also recalled his first meeting with Antony in Thanjavur and how they worked to focus on agriculture and nutrition.
A Varghese, son of T V Antony shared his memories about his father and about his strong commitment towards work. Dr GN Hariharan, Executive Director (in-charge), of MSSRF said that Mr Antony was the one who shaped the work of population stabilisation in Tamil Nadu in a very effective way.
In India, the biggest challenge of the 1980s was population stabilization which is when T V Antony played a very important role to devise strategies and also addressing health and hygiene, with advocacy for family planning, eradicating female infanticide, along with the emphasis on women empowerment.
TV Antony served as Chief Secretary of the Tamil Nadu government from April 1985 to July 1986 and again from January 1991 to June 1991. He also served as Chair of the Tamil Nadu Planning Commission. He was conferred with Padma Bhushan in 2004 and had received the Rajasthan State government’s award.
