Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday said Chhattisgarh’s transformation from an era of Left-Wing Extremism, fear and deprivation to one of peace, development and opportunity demonstrates what strong political will, firm security policy and development-oriented governance can achieve.
Addressing the third convocation ceremony of AIIMS Raipur, V-P Radhakrishnan said the institution has emerged as a symbol of the “new Chhattisgarh” and called upon graduating students to shoulder the responsibility of serving the health, trust and lives of the people.
“A convocation is not merely a moment of celebration but also a moment of responsibility,” he said, adding that the graduates would now be entrusted with something far more valuable – the health, trust and lives of the people of Bharat.
The Vice President highlighted the role of AIIMS Raipur, established in 2012, in addressing regional disparities in healthcare, medical education and research, particularly in central India. He said the institute has evolved in a short period into a major tertiary-care institution serving Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states, including rural and tribal communities.
V-P Radhakrishnan said the growth of AIIMS Raipur reflected the wider transformation taking place in Chhattisgarh.
Recalling the challenges faced by parts of the state for decades, he said difficult geography, inadequate connectivity and Left-Wing Extremism had hindered development, particularly in remote and tribal areas. Fear and violence had affected the expansion of roads, schools and hospitals and made access to essential services difficult for communities, he said.
The Vice President said Chhattisgarh is now witnessing a “new dawn” of prosperity, development and progress. He attributed the change to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the strategic resolve of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
He said the Naxal menace of decades had been brought to an end, with areas once associated with violence increasingly being identified with roads, schools, hospitals, connectivity, investment and opportunities.
“This transformation is a powerful example of the difference that strong political will, firm security policy and development-oriented governance can make,” he said.
AIIMS Raipur’s medical achievements
V-P Radhakrishnan also highlighted AIIMS Raipur’s progress in advanced healthcare and transplantation.
He referred to Chhattisgarh’s first swap kidney transplant, more than 95 per cent success in kidney transplantation, renal and corneal transplants and ear implants as significant achievements demonstrating the growing availability of advanced medical care in the region.
The approval for a heart-transplant programme, he said, was another important milestone.
‘Viksit Bharat possible only when every village develops’
Emphasising balanced development, the Vice President said the vision of Viksit Bharat could be achieved only when every state, district and village develops.
He said access to higher education was central to this vision and highlighted the expansion of the higher education sector over the past 12 years.
V-P Radhakrishnan also pointed to the rising participation of women in higher education, noting that female enrolment increased from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.24 crore in 2023-24, a rise of 42.2 per cent.
At the AIIMS Raipur convocation, 376 women and 313 men received degrees, he said.
Addressing the graduating students, the Vice President urged them to maintain a firm “No to Drugs” stance and contribute to building a country where technology reaches the last citizen and every young person can aspire to a better future.
“May your knowledge heal, your research innovate and your service inspire,” he said.
V-P Radhakrishnan also conferred gold medals and certificates on meritorious students and wished AIIMS Raipur continued success in clinical excellence, scientific innovation, public health and compassionate service.
He expressed hope that Chhattisgarh’s transformation would become an important chapter in the country’s larger journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
