Chandigarh, May 21
In a significant step towards promoting healthcare awareness and civic responsibility among youth, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, in collaboration with the Government of Himachal Pradesh, successfully organized the second phase of its large-scale student outreach programme under Project SARATHI during May 2026. More than 800 students and 71 teachers from districts including Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kangra, Chamba, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla, Solan, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Manali visited PGIMER in four batches on May 12, 14, 16 and 18.
The initiative, launched following the encouraging response to the first exposure programme held in February 2026, aimed to familiarise students with the workings of a premier public healthcare institution while instilling values of empathy, discipline, teamwork, and social responsibility .
Appreciating the initiative, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, said that educating young minds about compassion, preventive healthcare and civic awareness is essential for building a healthier society. He stated that Project SARATHI is not only focused on supporting patients within the healthcare ecosystem but also on nurturing a generation that understands the importance of service before self.
Coordinating the programme, Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Administration), highlighted that the visits were carefully planned in phased batches to ensure meaningful interaction and smooth hospital operations. He added that such exposure visits help students broaden their perspectives, develop confidence and better understand their responsibilities towards society.
During the visits, students attended interactive awareness sessions on organ donation, eye donation and blood donation, while also observing the coordinated efforts of doctors, nurses, administrators, support staff and volunteers in delivering compassionate healthcare services. For many participants, it was their first experience inside a tertiary healthcare institution, offering valuable insight into patient care systems, teamwork and public service ethics. Teachers and students described the initiative as inspiring and transformative, appreciating it as an important step towards personality development, confidence building and social awareness.
The programme once again reaffirmed the shared commitment of PGIMER and the Government of Himachal Pradesh towards holistic education and youth engagement, highlighting that meaningful learning extends beyond classrooms into real-life experiences that shape responsible citizens and nation-building values.
