The foundation stone of Sree Mookambika Institute was laid in 1985 by Late Shri. K. V. Krishnan Nair, father of The Chairman – Dr. C. K. Velayuthan Nair. This was the 50-bed Velayudhan Pillai Memorial Hospital, Padanilam, Kulasekharam that started with a mission to provide compassionate and excellent quality medical services to this region of the Kanya Kumari district where there was a paucity of supply of healthcare services. The hospital was run by Dr. C. K. Velayuthan Nair (Chairman) and Dr. Rema V. Nair (Managing Director).

Being socially conscious and wanting to provide inclusive care, frequent medical camps were organized in outlying rural and tribal communities. Those requiring admission were brought to the hospital and treated free of cost. This was a great relief for the poor who were affected during the 1990 floods 1990 and the 2004 Tsunami. Dr. Rema V. Nair has served as the former Chairman of Family Planning Association of India, where she has lead various organizations like the Mahila Mandal, and is well known in the region for her free family planning services, and various teaching programmes for housewives.

“The Padanilam Welfare Trust” was formed in 1992 to promote social vision focussed healthcare services for the marginalised communities and tribals, the welfare of the minority Malayalam speaking community in the region, and to provide quality Medical Education to rural students. The culmination of the determined efforts of the trust in the field of higher medical education has borne fruit in the form of 5 educational institutions, the result of its sincere desire and determination.