Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009
Corporation flays move to shift Siddha units
Staff Reporter
| Council passes resolution to this effect |
Rare medicinal plants collected from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Western Ghats are kept here
Move to shift the “treasures of Tirunelveli” to be resisted with all might: Deputy Mayor
TIRUNELVELI: Flaying the decision of Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi, to “gift” the Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit – Siddha and the Clinical Research Unit – Siddha, both on the premises of Government Siddha Medical College here, to two private institutions, the Tirunelveli Corporation has unanimously resolved to forward memoranda to the State and Central governments urging them to drop the move.
“If the CCRAS enforces its decision forcibly, it will certainly create unrest among the public, students and research scholars of the Siddha College here,” the council noted.
Raising this issue in the council meeting held here on Monday, Palayamkottai Zone chairman Suba. Seetharaman said rare medicinal plants collected from for nearly four decades, particularly from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Western Ghats, known for its rich medicinal plant wealth, had been kept in the SMP Unit.
“However, the steps taken by the CCRAS, New Delhi to gift away the Survey of Medicinal Plants (SMP) Unit - Siddha and the Clinical Research Unit – Siddha to two private organizations have created serious doubts in the minds of the public. ,” said Mr. Seetharaman, while appealing to Mayor A.L. Subramanian to pass a resolution in this regard.
Accepting Mr. Seetharaman’s submissions, Mr. Subramanian said: “The Tirunelveli Corporation Council unanimously passes the resolution that the CCRAS should immediately give up its move to shift and gift away the siddha units of Government Siddha Medical College here. The council also appeals to the State and Central governments to restrain the officials concerned from gifting away the priceless government properties to private institutions. Otherwise, the CCRAS’s move will certainly result in public unrest here.” Welcoming it, Deputy Mayor K. Muthuramalingam also noted that any move to shift the “treasures of Tirunelveli” from its birthplace would be resisted with all might.
Meanwhile, undergraduate Siddha students, who have been placed under suspension, can be seen sitting in the neighbouring VOC Ground as the college administration has reportedly warned that the suspended students would be arrested if they entered the college premises.
“The post-graduate students withdrew their agitation on Friday after the administration agreed to withdraw the suspension and the indefinite closure of the college. Now, the promise has vanished in thin air,” fumed the suspended students.
