Chennai: Extending Healthcare Benefits in Temples

Extending healthcare benefits to the large number of worshippers who visit the temples in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin has inaugurated newly established medical centres in five major temples across the state.

Considering the comfort of devotees visiting the places of worship, Stalin launched the services at Madurai Meenakshi temple and on the premises of four other shrines through video conferencing from the Secretariat on Friday.

• Irukkankudi Mariamman temple
• Bannariamman temple (Bannari, near Erode)
• Madurai Kallazhagar temple
• Sankaranarayana Swamy temple at Sankarankovil

Also read - Tamil Nadu CM Inaugurates Medical Centers At 7 Temples

The temples that already have the facility include:

• Tiruchendur Subramaniaswamy temple
• Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple
• Melmalayanur Angalaparameswari

The medical centres, with amenities to provide primary medical support to devotees, were set up in 10 temples last year which include Tiruchendur Subramaniaswamy temple, Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple, Melmalayanur Angalaparameswari. Now such facilities have been established in five more temples. The centres have been set up in temples with a large turnout of devotees.

A team had earlier reported that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched medical centres at seven temples in the State for the benefit of the devotees. Stalin inaugurated these centres, set up by the HR and CE departments, which would have two doctors, two nurses, and two multi-disciplinary medical staff.

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, P K Sekar Babu, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and senior officials were present.

The demand for such medical centres in major temples with large crowds was proposed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department last year and the state government sanctioned funds after granting permission to continue with the project.

Under the HR&CE department, the newly launched medical centres will provide first-aid facilities, oxygen cylinders, beds, and emergency medicines to devotees who develop a sudden illness. Two doctors, two nurses, and two multi-disciplinary staff will be available during the darshan hours for the benefit of the devotees, TOI reports.

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