Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat participated in a programme held by the Swami Vivekanand health mission society at the Ambedkar international centre in the national capital to mark seven years of the society’s work in Uttarakhand on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the chief minister said that the mission has been working continuously in Uttarakhand for seven years despite difficult geographical conditions in places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and other remote locations.

The mission has been providing medical facilities in such remote and difficult terrain, which is highly commendable, said Rawat.

Referring to the state of medical services in the state, the chief minister said that three years ago the number of doctors in Uttarakhand was 1087. The number of doctors has now increased to 2,100 while modern technology is being used to provide teleradioloy/telemedicine services too for the people living in the mountainous regions of the state. Citing an example, Rawat said that the Ghes village in Chamoli district had been linked to the Apollo hospital in New Delhi to enable doctors and experts in the national capital to provide their services to people in this remote mountain village. He further said that free hostel and travel facility will be provided for doctors.

Referring to comparatively recent developments, the chief minister said that a helicopter service had been started between Dehradun and Gauchar in Chamoli district. Now, one can reach Gauchar from Dehradun in only 40 minutes.

Appreciating the Vivekanand health mission, Rawat said that the mission is fulfilling the dream of Dr Nityanand. He also released the book “Devbhoomi- Chikitsa Seva ke Saat Varsh” on the occasion.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Swami Vivekanand health mission society was established with the aim of providing health services to the pilgrims arriving in the Char Dham shrines in addition to the local residents of these places. Its first centre was set up at Dharmawala in Dehradun during 2012.

After that Swami Vivekanand charitable hospitals were also opened at Maneri on the route to Gangotri, Narayankoti on the route to Kedarnath, Badkoti on the route to Yamunotri and Pipalkoti on the route to Badrinath.

The locals and pilgrims are being provided medical services through these charitable hospitals. More recently, the mission also opened charitable hospitals in Badrinath and Kedarnath during 2019. The Union Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya, Vijay Kaushal, Mata Mangala, Krishna Gopal and Suresh Soni of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were also among those present on the occasion.