To lay Foundation Stone for a free of cost 400-bedded multi-speciality hospital
April 01, 2022 – SATHYA SAI GRAMA, MUDDENAHALLI: Honourable Union Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for a completely free of cost new 400-bedded multi-speciality hospital adjoining Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli (30 mins from Bengaluru Airport), along with Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai who spearheads several humanitarian service projects in the fields of healthcare, nutrition, and education across 33 countries globally.
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, a spiritual leader and philanthropist, has initiated this project and the upcoming 400-bedded multi-speciality hospital under the Prashanti Balamandira Trust to provide free medical care and to establish India’s first free Medical College, to offer completely free of cost medical education to the rural poor.
This is in keeping with our Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi’s call for greater participation of Private and Social Institutions to strengthen Medical Education in the country. The Prashanthi Balamandira Trust has taken this noble initiative to create, and nurture committed and skilled doctors to serve the country’s unserved geographies and populations, particularly in the wake of the dislocation of Indian medical students from Ukraine, opting for medical education outside the country due to availability and affordability challenges.
Already a completely free of cost, 150-bedded multi-speciality hospital without a billing counter – Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, has been rendering compassionate healthcare service to the needy sections of the society at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli and it was dedicated to the nation by Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka – Mr Basavaraj Bommai in August 2021. The new 400 bedded hospital block, which is an investment of approximately INR 300-crores by the Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, will cater to several other specialities absolutely free of cost.
Speaking at the event after laying the foundation stone, Shri Amit Shah 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. Taking inspiration from Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings, this institution at Sathya Sai Grama is carrying out a mahā yajña of sevā. Today the ground-breaking ceremony of the 400-bedded hospital took place. Running a free hospital is no easy, it could bring along a lot of challenges. However, 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 the first-of-its-kind in India. This effort shall definitely find success.”
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai who has initiated this project said, “The Indian culture always taught everyone to pray for the welfare of everyone else—vasudaiva kutumbakam – a global family is the Indian idea. Today, Honourable Union Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah graciously laid the foundation stone for the 400-bedded multi-speciality hospital. Few months back, the Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr Basavaraj Bommai dedicated the Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital to the service of the nation, and as on date more than 19,000 patients have been treated completely free of cost at this hospital. In times of come, this will be become the most important centre for both health and education. Very soon, a free medical college will come up here. In truth, we are not doing anything new. Giving free services to all people for their basic needs was the original Indian way. In India food, education, and health were never sold—food was served to everyone considering them as atithi—education was bestowed to students free of cost in gurukulas—vaidyo nārāyano harih – doctors were considered God, because they served out of compassion without charges. We are only trying to revive the glorious Indian way back to its originality. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said – sabka sāth, sabka vikās, sabka vishwās and sabka prayās. Ours is one such effort, so that we can walk hand in glove with the Government to make India the viśvaguru, and everyone in India receives their basic rights of nutrition, education, and healthcare.”
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines – Shri Pralhad Joshi; Chief Minister of Karnataka – Shri Basavaraj Bommai; Minister of Small-Scale Industries and Municipal Administration of Karnataka - Shri MTB Nagaraj; Minister of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka - Shri Araga Jnanendra; and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, and Medical Education, Government of Karnataka – Dr K Sudhakar were also present at the event to commemorate this new noble beginning.
At the event, Shri Amit Shah presented the 'Chiranjeevi Bhava' certificates to two mothers with their newborn babies, and two children who weer treated for their heart defects at Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, Totally Free of Cost.
