Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), to come up at Thoppur near Madurai at a cost of ₹ 1,264 crore, here on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering, he appreciated the Tamil Nadu government for the progress made in the eradication of tuberculosis (TB).
He also inaugurated three super speciality hospitals constructed in the government medical colleges in Madurai, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur at a total cost of ₹ 450 Crore under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). He also inaugurated 12 post office Passport Sewa Kendras in Tamil Nadu.
Stating that the present National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre was prioritising the health sector to ensure universal and affordable health care, he highlighted schemes like PMSSY, Ayushman Bharat, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) being implemented towards this purpose.
He said that 1.57 crore people from Tamil Nadu were covered under PMJAY insurance scheme, of which 89,000 people had made claims to the tune of ₹ 200 crore in the last three months alone.
While the Union government was targeting the eradication of TB in the country by 2025, Mr. Modi said he was happy to know that Tamil Nadu was targeting eradication by 2023 itself through initiatives like ‘TB free Chennai'. He assured to extend all necessary support for the State’s efforts.
Highlighting that AIIMS in Delhi had cultivated a brand name for itself in health care, he said that AIIMS in Madurai will benefit the entire population of Tamil Nadu.
Request for medical college
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) Edappadi K. Palaniswami made an appeal to the Prime Minister for sanctioning a government medical college in the ensuing budget through centrally sponsored scheme in the ‘historically backward’ and ‘geographically remote’ Ramanathapuram district, which has already been chosen by the Union government under the Aspirational Districts Programme.
He highlighted how Tamil Nadu has been an example to other States in health care by pointing out the schemes implemented and progress made in organ transplantation and control of infant and maternal mortality rates.
Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who delivered the welcome address, thanked the PM for bringing AIIMS to Madurai, for which he said the request was raised by late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Pointing out that the jallikattu season was on in the State now, he thanked Mr. Modi for his help in lifting the ban on the sport in 2017.
Both the CM and Deputy CM spoke in Tamil and English at the function. While Deputy CM repeated almost his entire speech in English as well, the CM made the appeal for the medical college in Ramanathapuram alone in English.
Despite the event being a government function with the participation of the PM, CM and Governor, neither ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ nor the national anthem was played during the function.
