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With no siddha medical college in Kerala, siddha graduates in a dilemma to go for higher studies
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
April 03 , 2017
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Graduates in siddha medical sciences in Kerala are in trouble due to
lack of facilities for doing post graduate courses in the system, thanks
to the apathy of the state government to start one medical college for
the traditional medical system of the country.
Although there are
over 600 students pass out as siddha graduates (BSMS) in Kerala at
present, only one out of these graduates could do the post graduate
course (MD siddha) during last 13 years. A private institution in
Thiruvananthapuram district started the course in the year 2004. Dr.
Jijimol, the first and only one PG holder in siddha in Kerala had done
her course in the national institute of siddha (NIS) at Tambaram in
Tamil Nadu two years ago.
Kerala is the only state where siddha
system is taught in English language. In Tamil Nadu the course syllabus
is in Tamil and it often becomes a bottleneck for institutions in other
states to run the course.
Currently, six siddha graduates from
Kerala are doing their PGs in the NIS and one service candidate is doing
higher study at the government siddha medical college at Annanagar.
Many
a time, several associations of siddha graduates in Kerala have given
representations to the state government with requests to start one
siddha medical college. Once the government takes such a step, the
graduates in the system can do their post graduate courses in Kerala
itself. There is only one seat reserved for students from other states
for PG course in the government colleges in Tamil Nadu. Students who
seek admission for PG courses have to apply to the national institute at
Tambaram where the number of seats for PG is very less.
Dr V A
Rahul, an EC member of the Siddha Medical Association of India (SMAI),
who is doing PG in NIS, said the government of Kerala can develop and
upgrade the government siddha hospital at Vallkadavu in
Thiruvananthapuram into the level of a medical college so as to promote
the Indian system and the native siddha graduates. Hailing the
government for starting separate siddha wings in seven district ayurveda
hospitals, he said though a two storied building has been built for a
siddha hospital in Alappuzha, it has not been opened for the public yet.
He
has alleged that the siddha medical graduates association in Tamil Nadu
(ISMGA) is not supporting the graduates of siddha from Kerala. But
Kerala is the only state where siddha is taught in English language
which helps the system to grow in international level. If the system is
to be promoted to national or international level, only the graduates
and post graduates of siddha from Kerala should strive for it, he added.
Although
two government colleges in Tamil Nadu have PG courses and Ph D
programs, very few seats are allotted for these two programs. This year
the research work will be halted owing to complete failure in the
eligibility test conducted by ayush ministry for award for fellowship.
The siddha post graduates from Tamil Nadu lack standard in English
language. The private institutions are conducting only degree course.
The two government institutions (Palayamkottai and Annanagar in Chennai)
are conducting research program in siddha.
Dr. Rahul said if the
government of Kerala takes steps to start one siddha medical college,
it will help more students from the state to study the traditional
system and the graduates will have chances for higher study and research
in siddha. To a question he said the ayurveda community in Kerala does
not support siddha system to grow.
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