In Coimbatore, the Siddha clinic situated near the District collector's office is not functioning effectively, which should be considered for its immediate revival.
Coimbatore: President CM Jayaraman and Secretary VA Shanmugam from Citizen's Voice Coimbatore have issued a press release, citing various steps that are needed to be considered by the new Chief Minister MK Stalin to tackle Covid-19.
The press release stated that," At the outset, we welcome and congratulate the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu MK Stalin. This achievement of yours is the result of untiring and sincere hard work over an extended period of time and efforts which culminated in the winning of the 2021 assembly elections.
In this grave and testing times, we appreciate your awareness and concern towards the current pandemic and the “people’s war” against the Covid-19. Every citizen of the state of Tamil Nadu is with the government in this endeavor, which is the need of the hour. We take this opportunity to bring to your attention some of the few issues which requires your urgent and favorable consideration.
With the impending shortage of oxygen in the state, the government may consider reviving the Oxygen Plant at Trichy, on an emergency basis, which is presently inactive. This will, in addition to meet the requirement of Tamilnadu, will help supply of oxygen to other southern states also.
Wealthy individuals and the Corporates shall be requested to support the cause of fighting the pandemic as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Also, the citizens of the state may be requested to voluntarily contribute to The Chief Minister's Covid Relief fund. There are few opportunities which the government may consider which will lead to quick generation of additional revenue towards this initiative.
1. There are more than 3.5 lakhs applications pending for regularization of approval (unauthorized sites). If the government decides to process the pending applications after fixing a fee for regularization - say, Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 100,000/- per plot it can generate revenue of Rs 3,500 crores to 35,000 crores.
a) Government should give flexible options for payment as two to three installments and may also offer incentive for full one-time payment.
b) This will relieve the anxiety of the public waiting for more than three years for regularization. It may please be recollected that the previous government when you were the Minister for Local Administration has regularised the un- approved sites by collecting a fee of Rs. 1/- per square feet.
2. Government may consider the Sagayam Commission report on granites and minerals. As per the report it will entail collection of Rs.5,00,000/- Crores revenue per annum.
Government should enforce strict laws for this people’s war against natural calamities. For example, our neighboring states, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh are vaccinating and providing free treatment for poor and middle-class people.
We may utilize the money collected as fine from law evaders like those not wearing masks and other similar penalties. Some States have started taking severe action against the private hospitals who are charging exorbitantly from the patients.
Our Government should also convey the message to the private hospitals that this will not be tolerated in Tamilnadu. Most of the hospitals prefer treating the patients who pay cash and adopts a step-motherly attitude towards Health Insurance card holders. They even refuse to treat patients holding Star Health Insurance card, which is a government supported insurance scheme, since they reimburse only upto Rs.2 lacs for Covid treatment.
We sincerely appreciate the hard work of our health Secretary, the frontline warriors and the entire team. However, the state is suffering from an acute shortage of vaccines. Considering this, we should explore the possibility of using Siddha /Ayurveda medicines for the treatment of Covid-19.
Earlier, the DMK government during their previous tenure suggested and ordered to open Siddha clinic in every district. This initiative can be revived to combat the pandemic.
In this instance, it may kindly be noted that the Rajajai Hospital at Chennai recently treated and cured 150 patients using the Siddha medicines at a per head cost of Rs. 118/-.
Therefore, the Government should consider promoting the alternative treatment of Siddha medicines, which is affordable and safe.
In Coimbatore, the Siddha clinic situated near the District collector's office is not functioning effectively, which should be considered for its immediate revival. Your recent initiative of ‘help line’ at the district level is a welcome initiative which needs to be continuously monitored for its effectiveness, at the level of the Health Secretary and the CM's office.
The above issues/suggestions may be considered seriously for its implementation and we look forward to your proactive indulgence for the benefit of the government and the people of Tamilnadu.
As an active non-political NGO based at Coimbatore and functioning for the past four decades, we assure our wholehearted support and assistance." It said.