CM slams Centre for denying AIIMS to Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the Union Government has denied Kerala an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He made this remark during the inauguration of the newly completed building of Sri Sarada College of Nursing in Nettayam, Thiruvananthapuram.

According to a UNI report, Kerala was also denied at least one nursing college when the Centre sanctioned 157 nursing colleges across the country recently, the Chief Minister pointed out.

"Though Kerala, demanding every year, is eligible for AIIMS, it fails to get the Centre's approval. But, Kerala is not going backward in the nursing and health sector," he added.

"Nurses from Kerala are getting opportunities all over the world. The agreement to send nurses to Germany through Norka-Roots is in the final stage. Language training is also being provided to nurses going abroad," he said on Monday.

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"The society expects love, compassion, kindness and humane care from nurses. Nurses who risked their lives during the Nipah and COVID pandemics have a place in the minds of Keralites."

The memory of nurse Lini, who died battling the Nipah virus in Kozhikode in 2018, is a symbol of sacrifice.

"The standard of nursing education in the state is high. There is a culture in Kerala that sees nursing as a service beyond work."

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his wife Sharada Devi, who intervened in the society with a spirit of service, are symbols of charity, he said.

He also wished all success for the Nursing College, which is part of the Sasthamangalam Sree Ramakrishna Ashram Hospital providing quality and affordable healthcare services to the community.

Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, who delivered the keynote address, said serving humanity is worship of God.

"Service and sacrifice are the principles of the Math. The monastery has a tradition of providing medical aid and love to the common people. When the plague broke out in Kolkata, Sister Nivedita took care of the sick on the instructions of Swami Vivekananda.

"On the instruction of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Nischayananda did a pioneering work in the field of medical care in Haridwar and Rishikesh. The hospital he set up in a shed in Rishikesh has grown to a 200-bed hospital today."

A video message given by Union Health Minister JP Nadda was also shown on the occasion.

Swami Sarvalokananda of Delhi Math, Sasthamangalam Math President Swami Mokshavratananda, V.K Prashanth MLA, Kerala University Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal, Nursing College Principal Dr. Kochuthresiamma Thomas, Nursing College Vice Principal Dr. Kumari Haripriya. O.B, Ward members Ms. P. Rema, Nanda Bhargav, Centre Head Tata Elxsi Sreekumar V, former SBI CGM Adikesavan, Architect Sudhir and others also attended the event.

After the evening vesper services of Sri Ramakrishna, cultural programmes by nursing college students and classical music performance by Ms. Abradita Maitra Banerjee were also held.

Swami Gautamanandaji also interacted with devotees and heads of various Ramakrishna Ashrams on the occasion.

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Charitable Hospital is a 300 bedded multispeciality hospital providing ‘quality and affordable healthcare services’to the community since 1937.

The charitable hospital is well known for its sympathetic and dedicated services at highly subsidized affordable rates. The hospital has been serving the people of Thiruvananthapuram and surrounding areas including the neighboring districts within the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, for the last 84 years. A full-fledged psychiatric wing is also functioning in the hospital.

The hospital is a charitable institution working under Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, with headquarters at Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal.

The Thiruvananthapuram Ashrama branch was started more than 100 years back at Nettayam.

Sri Sarada College of Nursing, started in the year 2022, offers a BSc Nursing degree course under KUHS for 40 students per year.

Sri Sarada School of Nursing, which started in 1974, offers a Diploma in Nursing (GNM) under DME for 40 students per year.

Swami Vivekananda Institute for Paramedical Sciences and Technology offers 4 paramedical courses –DMLT (Diploma in Medical laboratory technology), DRT (Diploma in radiation technology), DOTAT (Diploma in Operation Theater and anaesthesia technology), DDT (diploma in dialysis technology), all courses are recognized by DME.

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