THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for SC/ST welfare A.K. Balan, responding to the charge that the state had failed to recommend tribal poison healer Lakshmikutty Amma for Padma Shri, said in the Assembly on Wednesday that the state government was not aware that 'Padma' awards were given for tribal healers. And then, in what sounded like a left-handed compliment, he said: "I suspect that they will soon provide 'Padma' awards for astrology and palmistry."
Mr Balan also said that there were many more traditional healers in the state like Easwaran Kani, Chanthu Vaidyar, Chellam Vaidyar and Chinnannan Vaidyar, some of whom are more reputed than even Lakshmykutty Amma. Mr Balan also ignored a demand raised by Aruvikkara MLA K.S. Sabarinathan, made during a submission in the Assembly, that a tribal medical centre and museum should be instituted in Lakshmikutty Amma's name.
Mr Balan said that KIRTADS (Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) had identified 250 tribal healers across the state, and had been providing them a monthly assistance of Rs 10,000. "Lakshmikutty Amma is a prominent name in the KIRTADS list," the minister said.
Mr Balan said that the Centre did not adopt a "decent and dignified" approach towards Padma awards this year. "They dumped the list provided by the state and decided on the basis of a list that came from somewhere," he said. "It was M.T. Vasudevan Nair's name that we had recommended for Padma Vibhushan. But the great man's name was scrapped and the honour was given to P. Parameshwaran. Of the 42 names recommended by the state for Padma Shri only one, that of Mar Chrysostum, was accepted," he said.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the state government should register its strong protest at the manner in which 'Padma' awards were announced this year.
