On her two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh, President Droupadi Murmu underscored the transformative impact of AIIMS Gorakhpur on the region’s healthcare landscape while attending the institute’s first convocation ceremony.
Praising AIIMS as a beacon of India’s medical excellence, she said its establishment has brought immense relief to the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and even parts of Nepal—areas that previously lacked access to high-quality tertiary care.
“The presence of AIIMS in Gorakhpur has alleviated the burden on distant metropolitan hospitals and provided the local population with timely, affordable, and specialized treatment,” she noted. “It is not just a hospital, but a symbol of hope and healing for millions.”
President Murmu lauded the AIIMS network for its role in advancing education, research, and healthcare, adding that AIIMS Gorakhpur is fast emerging as a major hub for medical excellence in North India.
She emphasized that this institution not only produces skilled doctors but also cultivates compassionate healers. “A sensitive doctor contributes to the healing process through empathy as much as through medicine,” she told the graduating students.
She also recounted a discussion with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during which she reflected on the remarkable improvement in the lives of underprivileged children aged 1–15 in the region.
“These children once lacked access to necessities—nutrition, sanitation, shelter—and were plagued by a debilitating disease. Today, that disease has been eliminated. This change is a source of inspiration,” she said.
The President visited the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly, where she presided over its 11th convocation ceremony.
Expressing concern over the declining visibility of domestic animals in rural areas, she warned of the environmental imbalance caused by modern farming practices and the disappearance of crucial ecological allies like earthworms.
Calling for a renewed focus on animal welfare, she advocated for the organisation of Animal Health Melas and veterinary outreach camps to improve rural animal care and public health. “Our livestock wealth is a national treasure,” she stated, adding that promoting it is a collective responsibility.
President Murmu commended IVRI’s 135-year legacy of scientific achievement, noting its vital research contributions and its role in securing patents and innovations that benefit the agricultural and veterinary sectors.
