Muddenahalli, April 1 : on Home Minister Amit Shah here on Friday laid the foundation stone for 400-bed multi-speciality hospital which aims to give free medical services to the rural poor. The facility is going to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. The project is an initiation of Sadhguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, under the aegis of Prashanti Balamandira Trust, which also plans to set up India’s first medical college that will offer free medical education to the rural poor. Speaking on the occasion, Shah said running a free hospital is not easy as it throws up a lot of challenges. “I see that the Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital is running it all free, with upgraded facilities and technology. I am extremely happy to know that the institution is marching towards commencing a free medical college for students. This will be first-of-its-kind in India. This effort shall definitely find success,” he said. “The vision of selfless service that I have seen here, speaks for itself. The strength and the futuristic vision with which selfless service activities are being carried out here, with no desire for name or fame, by only keeping the welfare of the whole nation in mind, with total surrender, makes me fall short of words,” Shah added. This project is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for greater participation of private and social institutions to strengthen medical education in the country, the Trust said. Already a free of cost 150-bed Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital is providing healthcare services to the needy sections of the society. The facility was dedicated to the nation by CM Basavaraj Bommai in August 2021. Sadguru Madhusudhan Sai said more than 19,000 patients have been treated free of cost at Sri Satya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital as on date. BDN SHK2044
