GUWAHATI, Jan 12: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday took part in the inaugural function of the academic programme of the first batch of MBBS in AIIMS Guwahati at Assam Administrative Staff College.
Speaking at the programme, the Chief Minister congratulated the students of first batch of MBBS starting at AIIMS, Guwahati campus and he remarked that inauguration of the programme on National Youth Day, which is Swami Vivekananda's birthday, is a welcome development. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan for the initiative to set up a world class health institute like AIIMS in Assam.
Highlighting Prime Minister Modi's endeavor to turn the NE region into New Engine of Growth for the country, Sonowal asserted that those efforts resulted in rapid development of the State and region in the last 6 years. He also appreciated the hard work of Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in bringing the idea of an AIIMS in Assam to fruition and commented it as the success of the joint effort of both Central and State governments.
Calling on the students from various parts of the country admitted in the first batch of MBBS in AIIMS Guwahati to strive for making the Prime Minister's vision of ek bharat shresth bharat a reality, Sonowal asserted that India's youth population holds immense potential for propelling the country into the top echelons of world order. He also referred to Assam's success in the fight against coronavirus and thanked the Health Department and other agencies of the Government for exemplary performance.
Virtually delivering his speech as the chief guest at the programme, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged the first batch students of MBBS in AIIMS Guwahati to consider themselves as fortunate and said that memory of being felicitated by so many dignitaries in the programme would remain with them forever. He called on the students to work with sincerity, dedication and hard work to become good doctors so that they can provide service to the society in future and said that it takes a long time for one to become a good doctor. He also appreciated the Assam Government for its success in the fight against Coronavirus.
Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biwa Sarma, in his speech, thanked Prime Minister Modi for historic initiative of setting up AIIMS in Assam when he laid the foundation stone of the premier institute on May 26, 2017 and conducted bhumipujan at Changsari on February 9, 2019 while allocating Rs 150 crore for the project.
Director, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar (the Mentor Institute of AIIMS, Guwahati) Dr. Gitanjali Batmanabane gave the welcome address in the programme which was attended by State MoS of Health and Family Welfare Pijush Hazarika, MPs Queen Hazarika and Dr. Rajdweep Roy, among others, stated a release.