Vivekanand Memorial Research Trust (VMRT) would supplement specialized health services to the people of North India by starting trauma centre, neuron-surgery, CT Scan and MRI services etc. in Vivekanand Hospital at Palampur. This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of 200-bedded Vivekanand Hospital constructed in association with Jai Prakash Sewa Sansthan, Noida at Palampur after he joined the dedication ceremony performed by Swami Subodhanand Regional Head of Chinmay Mission, North India, alongwith Shri Shanta Kumar, MP and Chairman of VMRT today.

Chief Minister said that State Government had extended all possible help for development of the hospital complex and roped in Jai Prakash Sewa Sansthan, which had been rendering yeoman service in the health sector all over the country, to develop the complex into a specialized medical centre in North India. He said that Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital had been developed by spending hundreds of crores of rupees into a specialized medical centre to the people of the State. He said that the State Government was strengthening the health infrastructure by associating private players in medical field as an impressive Rs. 850 crore ESI Medical College and Hospital complex was coming up at Ner Chowk in district Mandi and Markendey Medical College coming up in district Solan, which would not only provide specialized medical services of PGI standard but also produce medical professionals to meet the requirement of strengthening health infrastructure in the state. He said that State had best health indicators in the country as a number of schemes had been launched for different categories in the State.

Prof. Dhumal said that sex ratio of girl child of the age between 0 to 6 years of age had improved considerably and tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti topped in the country with 1017 female against 1,000 male. He said that ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ another ambitious scheme of the State Government aimed at providing financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 to the girl child of PBL families by depositing the same in the bank at the time of her birth which would increase substantially by the time she was grown matured to meet her future expenses. He said that Atal Swasthya Sewa had been instrumental in mitigating the sufferings of ailing people by providing them free ambulance service for treatment to nearest hospitals as also free institutional delivery, medical care for mother and child for one year were other facilities available in the state. He said that free education upto highest level was available to girls in the State besides a number of scholarships to help them pursue their academic pursuits to emerge self dependant in life. He said that VMRT was bound to emerge a super



No. 760/ 2012-PUB -2-



specialty medical centre in coming years for which all possible assistance would be extended by the State Government. He criticized previous government for ignoring the interests of the people and not giving any assistance for completion of VMRT.

Shri Shanta Kumar, MP and Chairman of VMRT, welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for extending all help to the Trust in realization of the dream project. He expressed gratitude towards Jai Prakash Sewa Sansthan as well for completing 200 bedded hospital and urged for starting medical and nursing colleges since adequate infrastructural facilities were available in the VMRT to develop the same at par with PGI and AIIMS. He also thanked donors who had contributed liberally for development of the complex. He specially mentioned the name of one prominent donor Smt. Bindo Deviwho although domestic workers had donated all her savings for the hospital. He hoped that world class health facilities would be available to people in the VMRT in coming years.

Swami Subodhanand, Regional Head of Chinmay Mission, congratulated VMRT for development of a world class health care centre in the beautiful location of Palampur which would also be most appropriate for natural cure of patients. He appreciated the cooperative attitude of people of Himachal Pradesh who had liberally contributed towards development of the VMRT and Jay Prakash Sewa Sansthan.

Shri Jai Prakash Gaur, founder, Jai Prakash Sewa Sansthan, congratulated people of Himachal Pradesh and said that he had fulfilled the commitment made with VMRTby starting 200 bedded hospital and assured that further upgradation process would continue. He said that efforts would be made to invite super specialists from Delhi from time to time to provide people specialized services at their door steps.

Shri Ravinder Singh Ravi, IPH Minister, Shri Ramesh Dhwala, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Shri Kishan Kapoor, Industries Minister, Smt. Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Shri Satpal Singh Satti, MLA and State President, BJP, Cap. Atma Ram, Shri Vipan Parmar, Smt. Urmil Thakur, Shri Praveen Sharma, MLAs, Shri Rajiv Bhardwaj, Vice Chairman, HRTC, Shri K.R. Bharti, DC, Shri Diljeet Thakur, SP, other prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.

0-00-