Chandigarh: Building on the success of its first student exposure initiative, PGIMER, in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh government, organised the second edition of Project SARATHI, bringing over 800 school students to the institute this month.A total of 837 students and 71 teachers from districts including Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kangra, Chamba, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla, Solan, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti visited PGIMER in four batches between May 12 and 18. The programme aimed to familiarise students with the functioning of a premier public healthcare institution while promoting values of empathy, discipline and social responsibility.PGIMER director Prof Vivek Lal said such initiatives help young minds understand compassion, teamwork and preventive healthcare, adding that early exposure to public healthcare systems helps shape informed and responsible citizens.Deputy director (administration) Pankaj Rai said the visits were planned in batches to ensure meaningful interaction without disrupting hospital operations. Many students, he noted, were visiting a tertiary healthcare facility for the first time.During the programme, students attended awareness sessions on organ, eye and blood donation and toured patient care areas to understand how various stakeholders work together.Teachers described the initiative as valuable for personality development and awareness, while students termed the experience inspiring.
