President, Ram Nath Kovind on Monday addressed the first convocation of the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Kangra and awarded eleven Gold Medals to eight meritorious students of the Medical College.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College Kangra from its meagre beginning has grown to a prestigious medical institution of the region. He also congratulated the medal recipients and wished for their prosperous and bright future.
Governor Acharya Devvrat said the first and for most quality of any educated human was to remain a learner throughout their life so that they can excel the benefits of modern technology.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the Medical College was established in 1997 and its first batch started in 1998. During the short period of twenty years, this college has created a special place for itself, he added.
Thakur said presently the State has six medical colleges in Government sector alone and in addition this Union Government has sanctioned AIIMS for the State which would be opened at Kothipura in Bilaspur district. He said that with all these prestigious institutions, the State would be producing six hundred doctors every year and all the health institutions would have best doctors to serve the people of the State.
The Chief Minister said that due to difficult geographical and topographical constituents of the State, creating quality infrastructure was a biggest challenge and despite this, the State has made tremendous progress in all spheres of life. He said that Himachal was the second most literate state of the country and it was also way ahead of the national average in various health indicators.
Thakur also urged the youth to come forward to collectively fight the menace of drug abuse so as to save the younger generation.
He said that on the initiative of the State Government a meeting was held with the Chief Ministers of four neighbouring States to chalk a joint strategy to tackle the menace of drug abuse.
Earlier, the Governor and Chief Minister accorded warm welcome to the President on his arrival at Gaggal Airport.