Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is inaugurating the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), today at Thambaram near Chennai.

A joint venture of the State Government and the Department of AYUSH, the NIS is the first-of-its-kind facility in India to promote and popularise Siddha medicine in a national and global perspective and to undertake advanced R&D activities related to the ancient system of Siddha medicine.

The Institute near the Tambaram Sanatorium in 14.7-acre premises and with a built-up area of 14242.41 Square metres has started treating outpatients from the month of October 2004 itself. The NIS will be named after Iyothee Thass, a Tamil Scholar.

The Rs 47-crore NIS is to offer research and postgraduate courses in Siddha with advanced research facilities, besides a 120-bedded Siddha hospital with latest medical infrastructure. The hospital will start functioning soon after the inauguration, said sources.

The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) had sanctioned courses on Siddha specialties of Maruthuvam, Gunapadam, Sirappy Maruthuvam, Kulandai Maruthuvam, Noi Nadal Nanjunoolum, and Maruthuva Needinoolum during August 2004. Each of these specialization courses has five seats in the NIS. A herbarium and a well-equipped drug research laboratory have been set up at the institution. The lab has advanced equipments for clinical pathology, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology.

The Government of India had considered the proposal for establishment of NIS at Chennai during the 7th Five Year Plan. However, it was cleared by the ministry of finance, department of expenditure only in January 2002. Rs 36 crore out of the project cost of Rs 47 crore was given as grant by the Department of AYUSH of the Central Government.