The Union Minister of State for Ayush, Shripad Yesso Naik, on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a headquarters building for the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and an out-patient department (OPD) building for Ayothidoss Pandithar Hospital of National Institute of Siddha (NIS), with a budget of ₹31.65 crore, in Tambaram.
The OPD block would comprise 30 consulting rooms, 20 dispensing counters and 30 external therapy rooms. In addition, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 500 will be in place for the NIS to conduct various programmes including workshops and seminars.
“By constructing a separate four-storeyed building for the headquarters for the Central Council for Research in Siddha in 1,680 square metres on NIS campus, the ordeal of staff and officials of CCRS would come to an end. ₹9.76 crore has been allocated for the infrastructure facilities and the location of two major Siddha organisations on the same campus will ensure mutual benefits for the growth of both the organisations,” said Mr. Naik.
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Mr. Naik said the Ayothidoss Pandithar Hospital, which was reporting around 700 patients per day in 2016, had recorded 2,174 patients per day during 2017-18.
The ever-increasing patient strength provided ample evidence that people accepted Siddha, he added.
Ayush Secretary Vaidhya Rajesh Kotecha insisted that more thrust should be given for research activities by NIS and CCRS scholars, which would take the systems to greater heights.
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