Symbolic wreaths laid at Palakkad Medical College

A unique protest was staged in front of the Palakkad Government Medical College on Saturday, drawing attention to the institution’s long-standing developmental challenges.

Vinodini, a nine-year-old girl from Pallassana, inaugurated the protest by laying a symbolic wreath at the college. The gesture was poignant, as she had lost her hand following complications arising from treatment for a fracture at the Government District Hospital a few months ago.

The protest, organised by the Palakkad Government Medical College Samara Samiti, highlighted the perceived indifference of the government and bureaucracy toward the college’s growth. Established in 2014 and functioning under the State SC-ST Development Department, the college has faced major constraints, with officials widely blamed for its limited development.

The Samara Samiti invited Palakkad’s candidates of the United Democratic Front (UDF), National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) to address the dharna and outline their vision for the institution.

Of the invited candidates, only NDA candidate Sobha Surendran turned up and laid a symbolic wreath, expressing solidarity with the protestors and promising to work towards removing obstacles to the college’s progress.

Presiding over the event, Samara Samiti chairman Arumughan Pathichira said the response of the UDF and LDF candidates would be closely noted. General convener Raymant Antony delivered the keynote address.

Palakkadan Karshaka Munnettam district secretary Sajeesh Kuthanoor and activists Raghu Mathur, K.R. Mahesh and Balachandran Pothayankadu also spoke.