The Central Council of Indian Medicine (C.C.I.M.) under the Department of AYUSH has given permission to the National Institute of Siddha (NIS) coming up at Tambram near Chennai to conduct postgraduate courses in six disciplines of Siddha medicine.

The sanctioned courses are in the Siddha specialties of Maruthuvam, Gunapadam, Sirappy Maruthuvam, Kulandai Maruthuvam, Noi Nadal Nanjunoolum, and Maruthuva Needinoolum. Each of the courses will have five seats and sanction is to start the courses from the academic year of 2004-'05.

The proposed NIS, coming up at an investment of over Rs 47 crore, is to offer research and postgraduate courses in Siddha with advanced research facilities, besides a 120-bedded Siddha hospital with latest medical infrastructure. Promoted as a joint venture of the State Government and the Department of AYUSH, the NIS is to promote and popularize Siddha medicine in a national and global perspective and to undertake advanced R&D activities related to Siddha medicine.

The civil works for the proposed medical college, undertaken by the Central Public Works Department, is nearing completion and the project is likely to take off within a few months, according to sources.

Sources informed the CCIM also gave sanction to the upcoming National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Bangalore to conduct PG courses in the disciplines of Moalijat, Illmul Quabilawa Amraj -e-Niswan, Tahafujji-O-Samaji-Tibb (P&SM) and Ilmul Advia with seven seats for each subject from the year 2004-'05.

The NIUM, an autonomous institution registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, is aimed at promoting the growth and development of Unani medicine, to train postgraduates and to conduct research and to provide relief to the suffering humanity on a non-profit non-losses motive. Though NIUM was planned way back in 1984 by the Central Government, the institute was inaugurated only during December, last year, informed the sources.