Viksit Bharat Possible Only Through Balanced Development of Every State and Village: VP Radhakrishnan

DEOGHAR (Jharkhand), Oct 10: Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday said the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ could be achieved only when every state, district and village progresses together, stressing the need for inclusive development and improved access to healthcare and education.

Addressing the second convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar, he said Jharkhand had the potential to become a major centre of inclusive and sustainable growth through investments in education, healthcare, skill development, technology and entrepreneurship.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. It can become a reality only when every state, district and small village develops together. Access to quality healthcare and higher education for tribal communities and rural folk lies at the heart of the mission,” Radhakrishnan said.

Emphasising that access to quality healthcare was a fundamental right of every citizen, the Vice-President highlighted the expansion of India’s medical education system and healthcare infrastructure over the past decade.

He said the country had witnessed the establishment of new AIIMS institutions and medical colleges, a substantial increase in medical seats and the expansion of health insurance coverage through flagship initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat.

Radhakrishnan noted that India, which had only one AIIMS earlier, now had 12 such institutions, with further expansion planned. He added that the number of medical colleges had increased from 387 in 2014 to 846.

According to him, the number of MBBS seats had risen from 51,000 to 1.39 lakh, while postgraduate medical seats had grown from approximately 31,000 to around 86,000 during the same period.

The Vice-President encouraged graduating students to apply their knowledge beyond institutional boundaries and extend medical services to remote villages and underserved communities. He underlined the importance of ensuring that the benefits of healthcare development reached tribal populations and people living in distant areas.

During the convocation, AIIMS Deoghar awarded degrees to 50 MBBS students, 94 Bachelor of Science students, 12 Master of Science students and eight postgraduate medical students pursuing MD and MS programmes.

Later, Radhakrishnan visited the Sainya Sampark Mela, titled ‘Sadaiv Aapke Saath’, in Deoghar. The Indian Army organised the event in collaboration with the district administration to provide welfare assistance and grievance redressal services to ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their dependents across the Santhal Pargana region.

Addressing the gathering, he paid tribute to military veterans and Veer Naris, acknowledging their sacrifices and contributions to the country. He described veterans as a valuable national resource whose experience and leadership could guide young people and support nation-building.

The Vice-President also recognised the sacrifices made by the families of serving soldiers, particularly women who bear significant responsibilities while their loved ones serve the nation.

He recalled the bravery of Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance Naik Albert Ekka and paid homage to tribal freedom fighters, including Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu and Kanhu, and Nilambar and Pitambar. He said their contributions continued to inspire patriotism and public service in Jharkhand.

Radhakrishnan also highlighted the implementation of the long-standing ‘One Rank, One Pension’ demand under the Modi government and referred to welfare measures introduced for veterans and Veer Naris.

Appreciating the single-window facilities available at the Sainya Sampark Mela, he said bringing pension assistance, medical services, documentation support and grievance redressal together on one platform represented an effective approach to last-mile service delivery.