Date:19/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121904810200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Others

Some relief for villagers

M. Balaganessin

As Santhi receives cheque from Chief Minister Karunanidhi

ANXIOUS: People sitting outside the house of S. Santhi at Kathakkurichi in Pudukottai district on Monday. — Photo: M. Moorthy

PUDUKOTTAI: Monday morning brought some relief to the villagers of Kathakkurichi, who were driven to despondency owing to television reports the previous night that S. Santhi, could be stripped of her medal after failing a gender test.

For them, the sight of Santhi and her parents receiving a cheque for Rs. 15 lakh from the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, as promised by the Government, was enough indication that the reports had not ruined her career.

Several villagers were thankful to the Government for lending moral support to Santhi at a moment of crisis.

They kept listening to the radio to keep track of the latest developments. Many of them were happy to learn that Santhi still retains the medal and was yet to receive any communication from the Olympic Council of Asia.

There were also some who dismissed such talks as mere rumours.

Santhi's sisters, Janaki and Sathya, were told about the television reports at the crack of dawn.

A relative of theirs, Sangan (55), woke them up narrating the story. They recovered from their shock as the day progressed.

The sense of relief was palpable in the entire town. Over the past week, Santhi's achievement at Doha hogged the discussions at tea stalls and public gatherings. Wall posters and hoardings dot the town with the district administration having taken steps to extend her a warm reception.

M. Manavalan, former Assistant Director of Khadi and Village Industries Board, exuded hope that Santhi's hard work would not go to waste.

The authorities at J.J. College of Arts and Science, Pudukottai, Santhi's alma mater, are unperturbed. N. Subramanian, secretary of the institution, says that Santhi can continue to utilise the facilities at the institution. She had been receiving maximum encouragement from the institution.