New Delhi, 2 September 2026: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishna today attended the third graduation ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur and called upon the passing out students to take up the responsibility of serving the health, faith and life of the people of India. Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said that the inauguration ceremony is not only a moment of celebration but also a moment of responsibility. He said, “Today you receive your degrees and tomorrow you will be entrusted with something even more valuable – the health, confidence and lives of the people of India.”
The Vice President highlighted the important role played by AIIMS Raipur since its establishment in 2012 in eliminating regional disparities in healthcare, medical education and research, especially in Central India. He said that in a very short period, this institution has emerged as a major tertiary-care institution serving Chhattisgarh and neighboring states including rural and tribal communities.
-
The growth of AIIMS Raipur reflects the remarkable transformation taking place in Chhattisgarh.
He noted that the growth of AIIMS Raipur reflects the significant changes taking place in Chhattisgarh. Referring to the challenges faced by parts of Chhattisgarh for decades, C. P. Radhakrishna had said that difficult geography, inadequate connectivity and Dabari extremism had created serious obstacles to development. In many hinterland and tribal areas, fear and violence have hampered the development of roads, schools and hospitals, leaving communities facing remoteness and deprivation from accessing essential services.
The Vice President had said that Chhattisgarh has today come out of the shadow of its past and is witnessing a new dawn of prosperity, development and progress. He credited this change to the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the strategic resolve of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the committed leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Saina. He said that decades of Naxalite corruption has come to an end and areas once identified with violence are now becoming more and more identified with roads, schools, hospitals, connectivity, investment and opportunities.
-
Vice President describes AIIMS Raipur as one of the best symbols of the new Chhattisgarh
“This transformation is a powerful example of the difference that strong political will, strong security policy and development-oriented good governance can make,” he said. The Vice President described AIIMS Raipur as one of the best symbols of the new Chhattisgarh, which is moving from an era of fear and deprivation to an era of peace, progress and possibilities. He also praised the institute's achievements in advanced health care and transplantation. He highlighted Chhattisgarh's first swap kidney transplant, more than 95 percent success in kidney transplantation, renal and corneal transplant and ear implants as important achievements which show how fast advanced medicine is becoming available in the region. He said the approval marks another important milestone for the heart-transplant program.
Emphasizing the importance of balanced development to achieve the national vision of a developed India, the Vice President said that the vision can be realized only when every state, district and village is developed. He said that access to higher education is central to the vision of a developed India and highlighted the expansion of higher education in the last twelve years. He also highlighted the significant increase in women's participation in higher education, with enrollment of women increasing from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.24 crore in 2023-24, showing an increase of 42.2 per cent.
-
376 women and 313 men received degrees
Also at the graduation ceremony of AIIMS Raipur, he had noted that 376 women and 313 men were receiving degrees. Addressing the graduates, Shri C. P. Radhakrishna had called upon the young graduates to always firmly say “No to Drugs” and contribute towards building an India where technology reaches every citizen of the country and every young Indian can aspire to a better future.
The Vice President said, “May your knowledge become a medium of healing, may your research bring innovation and may your service inspire.” He wished AIIMS Raipur continued success in clinical excellence, scientific innovation, public health and compassionate service. He had also expressed the hope that the transformation of Chhattisgarh will become an important chapter in the larger journey towards a developed India 2047. The Vice President also presented gold medals and certificates to the bright students.