📍 Lifelong Service Near Tiruchendur
A 90-year-old physician known for his unwavering commitment to affordable healthcare near Tiruchendur has passed away due to age-related illness. Dr. Ponnaiya’s demise has left the local community in deep mourning.
🏥 Four Decades of Dedicated Practice
🩺 Clinic in Arumuganeri’s Main Bazaar
A native of Arumuganeri in Thoothukudi district, Dr. Ponnaiya ran a clinic in the town’s main bazaar for nearly 45 years. For generations of poor and middle-class families, his clinic was the first and most trusted destination for medical care.
💰 Nominal Fee, Quality Treatment
❤️ Healthcare Within Everyone’s Reach
He was widely respected for charging only a nominal consultation fee while ensuring quality treatment. Even until a week before his passing, he continued to consult patients, reportedly charging just Rs 20 per visit, making healthcare accessible to the most vulnerable sections of society.
🏛️ Government Service and Private Practice
🔄 Balancing Public Duty and Community Care
Dr. Ponnaiya initially started his clinic while serving in a government hospital. Due to official transfers, he worked in different locations over the years. However, whenever he returned to Arumuganeri, he continued treating patients at his clinic.
🌟 Three Decades After Retirement
🕰️ Full-Time Public Service
After retiring from government service, he devoted the last 30 years entirely to serving the public through his private practice. His dedication to patient welfare remained unchanged even in advanced age.
🙏 Public Tribute and Farewell
🕯️ Residents Pay Last Respects
As news of his death spread, residents gathered in large numbers to pay homage. His body was kept at his clinic, allowing the public to offer their final respects and remember his decades of service.
🚑 Final Journey to Tirunelveli
⚰️ Last Rites in Native Place
Following the public tribute, his body was transported by ambulance to Tirunelveli for the final rites, according to reports. The farewell reflected the deep affection and respect he commanded in the region.
💔 Community Mourns a Family Doctor
🌼 Legacy of Compassion
Locals expressed profound grief, describing Dr. Ponnaiya as a member of their own family. Many have appealed for his clinic to continue functioning in his memory, hoping that his legacy of compassion and affordable care will live on for generations.
