The proposal to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala has apparently assumed political colours ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with reports suggesting that the BJP is keen to have it in Palakkad district.
While the State government appears clueless about the new development, there is no official word either from the Union Health Ministry or the BJP on the proposal. Sources indicate that a final decision is yet to be taken.
This comes even as the Union government is yet to approve the State government’s plan to set up the institute at Kinalur, near Balussery, in Kozhikode district. Kerala does not figure on the latest list of places in various State cleared by the Centre for setting up AIIMS.
The State government, however, is going ahead with acquiring around 100 acres of land from people at Kinalur to bring the prestigious institution there. The government has already readied another 150 acres, which was earlier in the custody of the Industries department, for the purpose.
The new plan could turn out to be both illogical and ill-conceived as the entire official process will have to be repeated. This could lead to a further delay in the completion of the project.
Health Minister Veena George told The Hindu on Tuesday that the Centre had been setting up AIIMS at places suggested by State governments.
“As per the latest communication from the Union government, our proposal is with the Union Finance Ministry. Both the Union Health Minister and NITI Aayog chairperson responded positively to our demand too. We have informed the Centre that we have readied land, road and water, etc., at Kinalur for AIIMS. It is not clear then why there is talk about shifting it to Palakkad,” she added.
According to media reports, both the BJP national leadership and the Union government have already taken a “political decision” to set up AIIMS in Palakkad.
The BJP apparently sees Palakkad, where it has a good organisational set-up, as a more favourable location for the institute than Kozhikode. Proximity to Tamil Nadu and the abysmal health-care scenario in Attappady in the district are cited as other reasons. The location suggested is Yakkara, where a Government Medical College Hospital is also coming up.
