Govt moots Armed Forces Medical College in Kazhakoottam

Thiruvananthapuram: It is known that setting up of a new Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC)  like the one functioning in Pune is under the active consideration of the Government of India. Kazhakoottam being a part of Thiruvananthapuram city is a developing area well known for the Technopark, VSSC, CRPF camp, Kerala University campus and international green field stadium.

The most suitable place in Kazhakkoottam for the establishment of the aforesaid medical college is in the campus of Sainik School which has an area of more than 300 acres. It was because of the farsightedness of the then Defence Minister V K Krishna Menon that such a huge area was acquired in 1961with the vision of establishing different sister units of the defence ministry in future.

Many of us feel that about 100 acres would be sufficient for the smooth running of the Sainik School. A large area of the campus seems to be remaining unutilised now. Hence it could be possible to set up the proposed  medical college over about 100 acres of the campus. At a time when acquiring land for development is a major challenge, especially in Kerala, the authorities should seriously consider our suggestion to make optimum utlisiation of the Sainik School land. Moreover, Kazhakoottam is one of the fast developing areas of Kerala. I invite the kind attention of the NDA government, particularly Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar and others concerned, to this suggestion of Kazhakkoottam residents.

(P. K. Sankaran Kutty, social activist and president of Kazhakoottam Swati Nagar Residents' Association and Kazhakoottam Sahridaya Vedi.)