Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu announces two new medical colleges, including one at Namsai and another in West Kameng-Tawang, while TRIHMS doubles MBBS seats to 100, alongside major healthcare and education initiatives with Ramakrishna Mission.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced plans to establish two more medical colleges in the state as part of efforts to expand medical education and strengthen healthcare infrastructure. He also said that the MBBS intake at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) has doubled from the initial 50 seats to 100 over the past two years.
According to Khandu, preparations are underway to establish a second medical college at Namsai, with construction work expected to begin shortly. A third medical college is also being planned in the West Kameng-Tawang region under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The proposed institution is expected to have an intake capacity of around 150 students.
The Chief Minister said an investor delegation from Delhi was scheduled to visit the proposed site and hold discussions with the concerned department regarding the planned medical college.
The announcements were made on Sunday during Khandu’s visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar, where he inaugurated a dedicated 33kV power substation and the Vivekananda Bhavan Phase-II staff quarters. He assured that the state government would continue to extend support to the Ramakrishna Mission in strengthening healthcare and educational activities across Arunachal Pradesh.
Khandu highlighted the long-standing association between the Ramakrishna Mission and Arunachal Pradesh. He recalled that the Mission began its educational journey in the state with the establishment of a school at Aalo in 1966. This was followed by the Ramakrishna Mission at Narottam Nagar and later the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital at Itanagar in 1978-79.
The Chief Minister said generations of students educated at Ramakrishna Mission institutions, particularly at Aalo and Narottam Nagar, have gone on to hold important positions in public life and government service. He emphasised the Mission’s contribution to education and human resource development in the state.
Khandu also said the state government is seeking to expand the Mission’s role in higher education. He said he had recently urged Ramakrishna Mission authorities to enter the higher education sector in Arunachal Pradesh. Following discussions with the Mission leadership, in-principle approval has been given for setting up two colleges, one at Aalo and another at Narottam Nagar.
The government is exploring the possibility of using existing infrastructure to start the proposed colleges at the earliest, Khandu said. He added that the initiative would help expand access to higher education while making use of facilities that are already available.
The Chief Minister also appreciated the Ramakrishna Mission for establishing an educational institution at Lamdung in East Kameng district. He said the institution would help address the shortage of quality educational opportunities in western Arunachal Pradesh.
On healthcare infrastructure, Khandu highlighted the importance of the upcoming 200-bed expansion of Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar. He said the expansion would make a significant contribution to healthcare delivery in the state, particularly as the Itanagar-Naharlagun urban region continues to grow rapidly.
Khandu also stressed the need for advance planning to meet the growing water requirements of the expanding capital region. He said the state government has already prepared and submitted a proposal to the Central Government for a major water supply project for Itanagar and Naharlagun.
The Chief Minister said efforts would be made to take the proposed water supply project forward at the earliest to meet the needs of the rapidly urbanising population.
During the programme, Khandu also took note of the poor condition of several existing staff and doctors’ quarters at Ramakrishna Mission Hospital. Many of the residential facilities, he said, date back to the 1970s and 1980s and now require replacement.
He said the Ramakrishna Mission had already submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the state government for replacing the ageing infrastructure. Khandu assured that he would take up the matter with the Planning Department for further consideration.
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The Chief Minister’s announcements underline the state government’s focus on expanding medical education, increasing the availability of trained medical professionals and improving healthcare infrastructure. The proposed medical colleges at Namsai and in the West Kameng-Tawang region are expected to further increase opportunities for students seeking medical education within Arunachal Pradesh.
The programme was attended by 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 Ramakrishna Mission Hospital Rev Swami Vedassaranandaji Maharaj, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Narottamnagar, Rev Swami Achyuteshanandaji Maharaj, and other dignitaries.
