Promised in 2014 but still remaining a dream; reason for Kerala not getting AIIMS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indications that the reason for Kerala not getting AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in the central budget is because there is no concomitancy in the state on where to set up AIIMS.

The government has completed the initial steps including land acquisition in Kozhikode. In Kinalur, 153 acres of the Industries Department and 99 acres of private land was acquired and a wall was built. Most districts are demanding AIIMS. The debate over where AIIMS will be allotted is not settled. The Centre is washing its hands saying that there is no coordination. The Centre may decide where AIIMS will be located, considering BJP's interest as well. 'Keralakaumudi' has reported several times about the discrimination in not allocating an AIIMS to Kerala.

People's representatives of various districts including Kasaragod, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad are on a fierce demand for AIIMS. After MP Rajmohan Unnithan met the Union Health Minister demanding the establishment of AIIMS in Kasaragod, MK Raghavan MP also met the Union Minister with the demand to establish AIIMS in Kozhikode. MK Raghavan argued that seven districts of Malabar and areas including Coimbatore and Coorg would benefit if AIIMS is granted in Kozhikode. Rajmohan Unnithan's position is that AIIMS is the right of Kasaragod, where there are many endosulfan victims. The government feels that if AIIMS comes to Kozhikode, the 6727 endosulfan victims of Kasaragod will not have to run to Mangalore for treatment. People's protests for AIIMS continue in Kozhikode.

In 2014, the Centre had announced that AIIMS would be allowed if 200 acres of land was provided. Even though there are 25 AIIMS in the country, Kerala's wait for AIIMS continues. The UDF government had identified land for AIIMS in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The Union Health Ministry had recommended to the Finance Ministry for AIIMS in Kerala but there was no follow-up.