Health, key development challenge for India: President
| Date :18-Aug-2019 |
Wardha Correspondent:
President Ram Nath Kovind attends golden jubilee function of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram
Hails institute’s contribution to society
“The world is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) is the first medical college of India established following the tenets of Gandhiji. This college which is celebrating its golden jubilee, has made stellar contribution to our nation’s progress, earning appreciation and respect for its academic excellence and its service to people,” said President of India Ram Nath Kovind at the golden jubilee function of MGIMS at Sevagram in Wardha on Saturday.
Also present on the occasion were Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, First Lady Savita Kovind, Kasturba Health Society President Dhirubhai Mehta, Trustee P L Tapadiya, Dean of the college Dr Nitin Gangane and others. The President inaugurated 750-seated auditorium built specially to mark 50 years of MGIMS. The auditorium complex is named Swarna Jayanti Sabhagar complex. He further said, “Health remains a key development challenge for India. As a country with 18 per cent of world population, we carry 20 per cent of the prevalence of global diseases. We are challenged by the triple burden of communicable, non-communicable and new and emerging diseases. Lack of access to health services, malnutrition and neglected tropical diseases place severe constraints on us. Our Government remains committed to tackle these through the flagship Ayushmaan Bharat programme and other health missions.”
Remembering Dr Sushila Nayar, who founded the institute in 1969, Kovind said, “Dr Nayar was a staunch Gandhian, a relentless freedom fighter and a visionary medical practitioner. She was a close associate of Gandhiji and spent considerable time at Sevagram Ashram.” Describing his visit to Sevagram Ashram earlier in the day the President said, “The four walls of the humble hermitage have much to teach and inspire us. As I walked through its courtyard my mind ran through Gandhiji’s struggles and his sacrifice, trying to fathom how much we as a nation owe him. Sevagram Ashram was the centre of many of his experiments with satya, ahimsa and emancipation of humanity,” he said. “The place has a deep imprint of his attachment to cleanliness and health.
He began his leprosy programme at the ashram,” the President said. “It was here that he pioneered community work on sanitation, an idea that continues to inspire us as we work for Swachh Bharat and for open defecation free India,” the President added. “Sevagram, Wardha and Vidarbha have had a glorious past. It was in these surroundings that Acharya Vinoba Bhave ignited his Bhoodan Andolan. And not far from here, Baba Amte anchored his social reform movement to provide care to leprosy patients and hope to the underprivileged,” he said. About the MGIMS he said, “The college has taken the rich legacy of Gandhiji and his values of service and social justice to greater heights. It is the first medical college to be established in rural India and as such marks a place for itself in the annals of India’s development history. The institute was born with the noble idea of serving our people living in villages.
It is counted among the top medical schools in India.” He also mentioned illustrious alumni of MGIMS like Dr K K Aggrawal and others. “As doctors and medical scholars, you have an important role to play in shaping our society and in ensuring the well-being of our people. You are a beacon of hope for many and millions,”Kovind said to the gathering. He sailed MGIMS’ orientation programme at Sevagram Ashram for every student. “It is a rare privilege accorded to you. You live and learn the life of Mahatma Gandhi - of ethics, empathy, dignity of labour and of serving humanity,” he opined. “The Village Adoption Scheme, where you look after rural families and continue your association with them throughout your stay in Sevagram, have instilled a high sense of service in you.
These features of the education ecosystem at your Institute present a template of value-based learning, which many can emulate and follow. Your rural training and your community empowerment approach is helping us bridge the gap in health service in rural and urban areas,’ said Kovind to MGIMS students. The President had begun his speech by offering condolences to those who lost lives in floods in various parts of the country including Maharashtra. He hailed the rescue and rehabilitation work undertaken by Central and State Governments and also pated the back of MGIMS for contributing to the flood relief work.
At the outset, the President and other dignitaries lighted the traditional lamp to inaugurate the programme. Kovind paid floral tributes to the images of Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi and Dr Sushila Nayar. Dhirubhai Mehta gave the introductory speech. Dr Anshu compered the programme while Dr Nitin Gangane proposed a vote of thanks. Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife Savita Kovind and daughter Swati Kovind arrived in a Air Force’s MI-17 chopper at Wardha on Saturday morning. He was welcomed by Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Zilla Parishad President Nitin Madavi, DGP Subodhkumar Jaiswal, Divisional Commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Special IGP, Nagpur Range Prasanna, Col E Goodsmith, District Collector Vivek Bhimanwar, SP Basavraj Teli and Addl SP Monika Raut were also present at the helipad.