Forum plea on AIIMS to Union Minister

A delegation of the Federation of Consumer and Service Organisations, Tiruchi, on Tuesday met the Union Minister Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon. Radhakrishnan during his visit to the city on Tuesday and impressed upon him the need to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital at Sengipatti near Tiruchi.

A delegation of the federation submitted a memorandum to the Minister. The federation had learnt that the State government had requested the Centre to set up the AIIMS hospital at Sengipatti due to its location and its accessibility to all parts of the State.

The federation said AIIMS hospital was expected to be established in Tiruchi in 2003 when the NDA government headed by Prime Minister A.B. Vajyapee announced its establishment at Tiruchi. Mr. Pon. Radhakrishnan later told reporters here that the decision to establish AIIMS at Tiruchi was first taken by the Vajpayee government. However, the project was put on hold for several years.

The State government, unfortunately, had not taken any decision on this issue due to which the hospital could not be set up in Tamil Nadu which was not good for the State, he further said.

He said people of southern districts preferred Madurai for setting up of the AIIMS, while those in Tiruchi wanted it established in their city.

Similar was the case with those from the Western region who wanted the establishment of AIIMS in that area, added Mr. Radhakrishnan