Health Minister declares 'Chandiroor' ( Kerala, India) as first 'Siddha Village'

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Sources: http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Health/20060906/442119.html Health Minister declares 'Chandiroor' as first 'Siddha Village'Chandiroor Kerala | September 06, 2006 11:40:46 AM IST----------------- Declaring this poverty-stricken backward village in Alappuzha district of Kerala as the first 'Siddha Village' in the country, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said overall shortage of trained medical manpower and inadequate infrastructure were the major factors responsible for fulfilled needs in the healthcare sector. Lauding the

Thiruvananthapuram-based Santhigiri Ashram and the Santhigiri Siddha Medical College for adopting Chandiroor Village under its 'Karunyam' programme, to make it completely disease-free, Mr Ramadoss said the deficiencies in the country's healthcare system could be met if dedicated 'ashrams' and missions came forward to adopt villages and hamlets. ''Through

the combined efforts of all, we can certainly develop strategies to use limited resources in the best possible way,'' he added. Calling for a holistic approach and convergence of ideas, Mr Ramadoss noted this was the first time an entire village was being adopted for Siddha treatment, that too, in a state where Ayurveda was flourishing. The Minister said the ashram was fulfilling one of the visions of its Founder Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru by adopting the 3,000-odd families of Chandiroor, the village where the Guru was born 80 years ago The ashram had a mission to take the traditional systems of Indian medicine like Ayurveda and Siddha outside India and this mission is starting from the birthplace

of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru. He said the major strength of the Siddha system was its accessibility, wide acceptability, naturalness of the products and cost effectiveness. Santhigiri, which had opened the only Siddha medical college in Kerala a few years ago, has now pioneered another initiative by adopting an entire village for Siddha treatment, he added. In his keynote address, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan said the ashram, through its successful practice of the 'One Caste, One Religion and One God' dictum has, in a short time, emerged as one of the most prominent organizations in Kerala. It was noteworthy that the ashram was launching the project on the 'Thiruonam' day, the most important festival of Kerala, which harks back to a time when Mahabali ruled over the people and there was neither poverty nor

hunger. Santhigiri Siddha Medical College Principal V Arunachalam said a survey conducted by the college some time ago had revealed high incidence of rheumatism, respiratory problems and skin diseases in the area besides

diabetes, piles and hypertension. Dotted with export-oriented prawn processing units, which threw waste into the water channels, Chandiroor faced a huge problem in the form of contaminated water. Dr Arunachalam said besides holding of monthly camps and free

distribution of medicines, the three-year programme would also include awareness campaigns on simple water purification techniques and the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and general sanitation. Member of Parliament K S Manoj, MLA A M Arif and Dr C N Devanayakam, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee of the Union Government's Central Committee on Research in Ayurveda and Siddha were among those present. UNI ARC AD VA RN1441

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