A Healthy India is the foundation of a Viksit India: Rajnath Singh

Ghaziabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said,” We believe that India’s true empowerment lies in the health of its citizens. The goal is to make India a developed nation by 2047, and for that, ensuring a healthy populace is paramount.” Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Yashoda Medicity today, he state, “We are moving towards the India our ancestors envisioned; a strong and healthy nation. Every step, every policy, and every effort of our government is dedicated to uplifting the poor, the underprivileged, and the rural population.”
Highlighting the institution’s achievements, the Defence Minister said that Yashoda Medicity has earned recognition as a leading robotics surgery training centre in South Asia. This milestone will redefine medical education and technical research. He added that behind every great success lies a story of deep personal struggle. The inspiration for Yashoda Medicity, he said, came from Chairman Dr. P.N. Arora’s personal loss when he witnessed his mother’s suffering due to cancer in 1986. “This pain gave birth to this institution, which today stands as a symbol of trust and care for the last person in society,” he remarked.
Commending the hospital’s social commitment, Rajnath Singh said, “Just as Yashoda Medicity has fulfilled its responsibility towards society, we too are committed to the welfare of every citizen, especially the most vulnerable.” He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s healthcare system has been completely transformed. “Once a cause of concern for the poor, good healthcare has now become their right,” he said.
The Defence Minister emphasized that no Indian should lose hope due to illness. Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, 10 crore families have been provided with an annual health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh each. Recently, all senior citizens aged 70 and above have also been included in the scheme, ensuring that the government stands by them as protectors during their most delicate years.
Rajnath Singh further said that affordable medicines are now being made accessible to people through Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras, benefiting every village across the country. He underlined that the government is building a strong healthcare infrastructure, pointing out that the number of medical colleges has grown from 387 in 2014 to 800 today, while MBBS seats have more than doubled from 50,000 to over 1.2 lakh. “A decision has also been taken to establish 22 new AIIMS hospitals. Of these, 12 are already fully functional, while the rest are nearing completion. Once operational, these institutions will further strengthen our healthcare network,” he added.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress made by Yashoda Group, the Defence Minister said he was confident that the institution would set new benchmarks of innovation not just in India but across South Asia. He expressed gratitude to President Draupadi Murmu for her presence, noting that her visit had infused the doctors and staff with new energy and inspiration. Rajnath Singh also congratulated Yashoda Medicity Chairman and Managing Director Dr. P.N. Arora, CEO Dr. Upasana Arora, and their entire team for their commendable efforts.
Earlier, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated Yashoda Medicity in a grand ceremony attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, union Minister Anupriya Patel, and other dignitaries.
UNI