ITANAGAR, OCT 4:

Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday inaugurated a dedicated 33kV power substation and the Phase-II staff quarters of Vivekananda Bhavan at Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) Hospital, Itanagar, and assured continued State Government support to strengthen the Mission’s healthcare and education initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh.

The new staff quarters will accommodate around 18 staff members, while the dedicated power substation has been established exclusively for the hospital. Khandu dedicated both facilities to RKM Hospital and its extended family.

The Chief Minister also joined the presentation of Tokens of Appreciation to doctors, wards and staff members of the hospital in recognition of their contribution to healthcare services in the State.

Speaking on the occasion, Khandu recalled the Ramakrishna Mission’s long association with Arunachal Pradesh, beginning with the establishment of its school at Aalo in 1966, followed by the Mission at Narottam Nagar and the hospital at Itanagar in 1978-79.

He noted that generations of students educated at RKM institutions had gone on to occupy important positions in public life and government service, particularly those from the Aalo and Narottam Nagar institutions.

Highlighting efforts to expand the Mission’s educational footprint, Khandu said he had recently urged the RKM authorities to enter the field of higher education in the State. Following discussions with the Mission leadership, in-principle approval has been accorded for two colleges, one each at Aalo and Narottam Nagar.

The government is exploring the use of existing infrastructure to operationalise the institutions at the earliest, he said.

Khandu also appreciated the Mission for establishing an educational institution at Lamdung in East Kameng district, saying it would help address the gap in quality education in western Arunachal Pradesh.

On healthcare, the Chief Minister said the proposed 200-bed expansion of RKM Hospital would significantly strengthen healthcare delivery in the State.

He highlighted the expansion of Arunachal Pradesh’s healthcare infrastructure, including the establishment of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), where MBBS intake has increased from the initial 50 seats to 100 seats over the last two years.

The State is also preparing to establish a second medical college at Namsai, with construction expected to begin shortly. A third medical college in the West Kameng-Tawang region, with an intake capacity of around 150 students, is being planned under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. An investor delegation from Delhi is scheduled to visit the proposed site and hold discussions with the concerned department, Khandu said.

Responding to RKM Hospital’s requirement for dedicated water supply, Khandu said the matter had been referred to the concerned department for necessary processing and funding. Citing the dedicated water supply arrangement created for TRIHMS, he said a similar solution for RKM Hospital would be pursued once the proposal reaches the appropriate stage.

He also stressed the need for advance planning of water infrastructure in view of rapid urbanisation in the Itanagar-Naharlagun capital region. The State has already submitted a proposal to the Government of India for a major water supply project for the capital region, he said.

Khandu also took note of the poor condition of the hospital’s existing staff and doctors’ quarters, many of which date back to the 1970s and 1980s. He said RKM had submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the State Government for replacing the ageing infrastructure and assured that he would take up the matter with the Planning Department.

The government would work towards approving the first phase at the earliest to enable construction to commence, he said.

Home Minister Mama Natung, MLAs Pani Taram and Jikke Tako, Vice President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Rev Swami Suhitananda Ji Maharaj, Secretary of RKM Hospital Rev Swami Vedassaranandaji Maharaj and Secretary of RKM Narottam Nagar Rev Swami Achyuteshanandaji Maharaj were among those present.