"Government has launched number of initiatives for healthcare, but we need to create awareness about health related issues in Tamil Nadu," said Kalpana Sankar, CEO, Hand in Hand.

"We have selected a remote village of 800 people in Kancheepuram for the pilot project, which would run for a year to study the residents' actual needs," said G. Arun Kumar, principal co-ordinator and associate professor, Department of Management Studies, IIT-Madras.

"The IIT-M 1981 batch has given funds worth Rs.5 lakh for the project and will also involve villagers themselves in the project by asking for a token fee of Rs.10 for a consultation," said R. Nagarajan, advisor, office of alumni affairs.

Medicines and testing facilities would be provided by the NGO, which already had a team of four doctors (two on consultative basis).

Along with the project, the team would also look at providing micro-insurance to the villagers and also integrate government schemes for vouchers.

"We have asked villagers to provide space, water and power for the clinic, and the panchayat had been asked to pass a resolution in favour of the scheme to involve the local government in the healthcare scheme," said G. Arun Kumar.

The pilot project would begin in the next six to eight weeks after the panchayat passed the resolution, Prof. Arun Kumar said.

Source : indiaedunews