Meeta Rajivlochan, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India said, “Project SARTHI has been a game changer, transforming into a national movement. On the basis of the remarkable work here, we have initiated similar projects in 250 hospitals across 25 states on the lines of Project Sarathi, and we are preparing to expand to over 700 hospitals shortly.” Rajivlochan said this while addressing an impressive event organised to felicitate the NSS volunteers of Project Sarathi here at PGIMER in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Prof Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Administration) and others were present on the occasion.

Expressing her deep appreciation of Project Sarathi, the Secretary further said, “The true strength of Project SARTHI lies in its ability to foster positivity, build self-esteem, and empower through communication. In a space as dynamic and demanding as PGIMER, where 20,000 patients pass through each day, by streamlining care by NSS volunteers, we are setting the foundation for a more compassionate and efficient healthcare system.”
Deliberating on the way forward for scaling the Project, Rajivlochan emphasised, “The road to scaling Project SARTHI lies in structured systems and shared learning. By circulating the SOPs and conducting thorough before-and-after studies, we not only solidify the project’s impact but also pave the way for sustainable expansion.”
“For us the way forward would be how to institute My Bharat Help Desk in medical institutions which would allow different educational institutions to connect with them regularly, enabling young people to fulfil their innate desire to serve through an organized, adaptable framework,” the Secretary further added.
Conveying her full support to the project, the Secretary said, "Project Sarathi has provided the NSS volunteers with a platform to apply their skills and compassion in a real-world setting. We will ensure that the movement picks up from strength to strength.”