The Indian Siddha Medical Graduates Association (ISMGA) has demanded to shift the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) headquarter to Delhi for the better functioning of the Council. ISMGA has written a letter to minister of Ayush on March 18, 2015 to examine the feasibility of shifting the council head quarters back to New Delhi so that the functioning of the CCRS will be at par with the other research councils.

Dr Padma Ram Chandra, National Secretary-ISMGA informed that CCRS was created by bifurcation of the CCRAS and headquarter was supposed to be established at National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram, Chennai but the director general of CCRS did not receive the permission. Even after four years the council does not have a head quarters building in spite of funds being allotted. At present the Council is functioning at Arignar Anna Govt. Hospital Campus Arumbakkam, Chennai

Explaining the disadvantage of CCRS headquarter in Chennai, Dr Chandra says, “The international health delegates especially from World Health Organisation (WHO) visiting India will always prefer going to Delhi as the international institutes and major health departments are in Delhi. They will never come to Chennai for Siddha only to visit CCRS. But if the Council is in Delhi then they will visit and we will have a international recognition like other research council.”

In the letter Dr Chandra also mentioned about the poor functioning of CCRS.  He informed that most of the units of the Council are functioning with single research officer with no fruitful research outcome. The reports suggest the same work has been done in both years- looks like a simple ‘cut and paste’ particularly in the literary research unit.

Further, he adds, the research papers published in online journals are without any proper evaluation and are published just in a day of submission which reflects badly on the Council and Siddha system. Even the clinical study was not completed that was started for diabetes drug carried on only two patients.

Dr Chandra also informed that every year the fund allotted to CCRS is not being utilised properly for the research and the remaining funds are being returned to the department. So this year the fund allotted to Siddha has been lower.

The letter also states about the inordinate delays and disputes in recruitment of Siddha research officers and other technical officers in spite of post sanctions and fund allocation.

There are a lot of malpractices going on regarding the recruitment of Siddha research officer and many complaints are received by Ayush department. The DG has submitted the explanation letter regarding the recruitment matter based on the complaint by Dr Kumar, retired joint advisor of Siddha, Ayush department, said Dr. Chandra.

He says, “The things are very complicated in CCRS and the moving of head quarters to Chennai has in fact seriously affected the development of the council. We are therefore demanding to shift the headquarter to Delhi for the Council to function effectively. If the Council is in Delhi, the director general of CCRS could have the benefit of hand holding by our ministry and director generals of other national research councils which can enhance the functioning of CCRS.”

Being the professional body for qualified Siddha doctors and Government of Tamil Nadu’s notified official body for Siddha in Tamil Nadu Government Clinical Establishment Committee ISMGA is ready to work for the upliftment of Siddha by the Ministry of Ayush, through its various committee concerning Ayush systems.