PRESS RELEASE BY SIKKIM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY
TADONG, EAST SIKKIM
SMU felicitates Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Hon’ble Chief Minister Sikkim & the Govt of Sikkim for enabling 50 meritorious students of Sikkim to benefit from free MBBS course at SMIMS.
GANGTOK, 12 June 2022: It was a momentous day and a great honour for Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) to welcome the visionary leader Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Hon’ble Chief Minister Sikkim, for his Felicitation Ceremony at the SMU campus in Tadong here today.
In acknowledgement of his superlative leadership, Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, was felicitated by Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) along with the grateful first year MBBS (Sikkim Quota) students and their indebted parents. He was jubilantly applauded for his historic and commendable role in securing 50 free MBBS seats for the students of Sikkim in Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) under SMU here, today.
This unique event was organised by SMU, SMIMS & Central Referral Hospital (CRH), to commemorate the stellar role and peerless contribution of the Hon’ble Chief Minister & the Government of Sikkim, for their philanthropic magnanimity in enabling the 50 meritorious students of Sikkim, to benefit from free medical education in the MBBS course at SMIMS.
The felicitation ceremony was graced by Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim as the Chief Guest.Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Education, Government of Sikkim; Dr. MK Sharma, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Health, Shri C.P. Bhattarai, Press Advisor to HCM; Government of Sikkim; Shri G.P. Upadhyaya, IAS, Addl Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim; Shri S.D. Dhakal, IAS, Secretary to HCM; Shri D. Anandan, IAS, Commissioner cum Secretary, Government of Sikkim;; Smt. Hondala Gyaltsen, Director Technical Education, Government of Sikkim, senior government officials, Dr. Karma Sonam Sherpa, Registrar, SMU; Dr. MV Pai, Dean, SMIMS; Dr G L Sharma, Director, SMIT; faculty and staff of SMU and its constituent colleges and units, beneficiary students and their parents were also present on the occasion.
At the exquisitely organised felicitation ceremony held at SMU campus in Tadong, the Vice Chancellor, Dr. (Lt Gen) Rajan S Grewal, and the entire team of SMU placed on record their heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, for fulfilling the long-pending aspirations of the students of Sikkim, by creating a prestigious national record of securing 50 free MBBS seats for them in SMIMS. This unprecedented achievement will immensely improve the career prospects of the students of the state and further strengthen the healthcare sector in Sikkim. The Vice Chancellor also expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Government of Sikkim for extending commendable support to facilitate approval of National Medical Commission (NMC) to increase the MBBS seats at SMIMS from 100 to 150.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor, Dr. (Lt Gen) Rajan S Grewal, while extending his heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, said this landmark achievement will provide the MBBS students of Sikkim, the unparalleled opportunity to fulfil their ambitions to become competent doctors, with the spectrum of excellence in education, at SMIMS. He highlighted that the Hon’ble Chief Minister has consistently rendered distinguished meritorious public service of exceptionally high standards and surpassed all benchmarks of excellence in the superlative leadership of the state of Sikkim. With his inspirational work ethos, dauntless dynamism and unflinching commitment, he has exponentially upgraded Sikkim’s socio-economic development, education and healthcare standards to the highest levels. He has inspirationally spearheaded the pan spectral growth of the state with creditable enhancement of the all quality of life indices of the common and underprivileged citizens of the state. We at SMU, are fortunate to receive the unyielding support and valued guidance provided to us by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Prem Singh Tamang and his government towards the exponential growth of health and education sectors in Sikkim,” he said. “We are confident that under the gracious patronage and visionary leadership of Shri Tamang, Sikkim Manipal University and all its constituent institutes, colleges & units, will rededicate ourselves to impart high quality specialised healthcare and contemporary, value added multi-disciplinary education in service of our citizens, patients, students, and the Government of Sikkim.
The Vice Chancellor also provided a brief overview of the contributions of SMU towards the growth of higher education and health care sectors, human resources development, enalbling entrepreneurship ecosystem, community outreach and employment generation in Sikkim.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister was presented with a Citation and Mementoes on behalf of SMU by the Vice Chancellor. Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Education, Government of Sikkim; and Dr. MK Sharma, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Health were also felicitated for their remarkable role and support in securing the 50 free MBBS seats at SMIMS for Sikkimese students.
The grateful students and their indebted parents who have benefitted from the 50 free MBBS seats at SMIMS also took the opportunity to profusely thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Prem Singh Tamang for fulfilling their long-pending aspirations to avail of high quality medical education in their home state; that too free of cost. The Hon’ble Chief Minister was also presented with Citations and Mementos by the First Year MBBS students and their parents.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister released a brochure, “SMU in service of Sikkim” on the occasion which encompasses the noteworthy contributions of the University in the growth, development, education, healthcare, skill development, entrepreneurship and community outreach arenas.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Prem Singh Tamang, who held the audience spellbound with his inspirational words and narratives from his personal life, dedicated the gratitude and respect accorded to him by SMU, indebted students and their parents for this momentous achievement to Sikkim and the Sikkimese populace.
He said that his government has accorded topmost priority to the quantum improvement of health and educations sectors. The 50 free medical seats at SMIMS was a dream come true towards ensuring quality medical education to deserving students of Sikkim especially those from the underprivileged backgrounds. Shri Tamang emphasised that it was his motto that said that no deserving student should be denied a good education. He added that his government is wholeheartedly committed to providing all the support to ensure that the ambitions and dreams of all students who want to pursue higher education in any discipline are fulfilled. He also reiterated his government’s commitment towards improving and strengthening the health care sector. “Our vision of ensuring that accessible healthcare reaches the remotest corners of the state and our aspiration that ambulances with patients come to Sikkim instead of travelling towards Siliguri and beyond, is already a reality. We have left no stone unturned to upgrade the health infrastructure of the state and have worked tirelessly towards ensuring that the poorest of the poor get timely and the best medical treatment within the State and in the nationally reputed hospitals outside of the state. The SKM party has also stepped in to support the government by initiating a number of health and welfare schemes which are immensely benefiting the people of Sikkim, he added.
Earlier, Dr. Sandeep Kashyap, Associate Professor, Dental Surgery, SMIMS, CRH and LO, SMU showcased the healthcare facilities SMU, SMIMS & CRH dedicated to the state of Sikkim, which had been pivotal in combating the Covid pandemic crisis and helped the poor and the needy pateints. He talked about the various schemes launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister along with SMU & CRH for comprehensive medical treatment and care for the Sikkimese populace, in line with the vision of the Government of Sikkim towards strengthening the health care sector. He added that the 150 free beds at CRH were dedicated to the economically backward patients of Sikkim.
A colourful cultural programme highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Sikkim was also presented by the MBBS students on the occasion.
Prof. (Dr.) Muralidhar V. Pai, Dean, SMIMS presented the Vote of Thanks and expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim and the dignitaries of Government of Sikkim for their constant encouragement and laudable support.
