SHIMLA-5 October, 2026

47 students from Odisha call on Chief Minister

As part of the Youth Exchange Programme, a group of 47 students from 32 districts of Odisha, currently visiting Himachal Pradesh, called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today. The students, aged between 18 and 30 years, are pursuing various undergraduate, postgraduate and other courses in Odisha. Their visit to Himachal Pradesh commenced on 3^rd October and will continue till 8^th October. During their stay, they have visited NIT Hamirpur, Shimla and will visit other prominent destinations in the state, including IIT Mandi, Atal Tunnel and Jwalamukhi Temple.

Welcoming the students to Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister enquired about their experiences during their visit. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh are peace-loving and deeply rooted in the state’s rich ‘Dev Sanskriti’. He encouraged the students to work hard with dedication and sincerity to achieve their goals.

The students also honoured the Chief Minister by presenting him with a traditional ‘Sambalpuri Uttariya’ and a Dhokra art painting, representing Odisha’s rich cultural and handicraft heritage. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the students and appreciated the traditional gifts presented by them.

The Youth Exchange Programme aims to familiarise students with the rich culture and history of Himachal Pradesh, as well as the state’s development journey. The programme also provides an opportunity for interaction and cultural exchange among youth from different states, thereby strengthening the spirit of national unity and integration.

As part of the same programme, around 50 students from Himachal Pradesh will visit Odisha from 12 to 19^th October.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil and Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan were also present on the occasion.

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Job trainee doctors to be allowed to pursue PG courses: CM

• CM presides over review meeting of Health Department

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Health Department to allow job trainee doctors to pursue postgraduate (PG) courses. Presiding over a meeting of the Health Department here today, the Chief Minister said that doctors seeking permission to pursue super-speciality courses would also be granted permission, while the duration and amount of their bonds would be enhanced to ensure that they return to the state after completing their courses and continue to serve the people of Himachal Pradesh. This would ultimately benefit patients in the state.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was taking several steps to provide world-class healthcare facilities within the state and the initiatives were yielding positive results. He said that strengthening diagnostic facilities remained a key focus of the government. He directed all Government Medical Colleges to digitise end-to-end data relating to all MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound examinations being conducted in their respective Radiology Departments by 20^th October. He said that adequate manpower would be provided by the state government for the purpose. He also directed all medical colleges to submit department-wise requirements of nurses and technicians so that the recruitment process could be expedited.

The Chief Minister said that the state government had constituted an expert committee to examine the proposal for establishing Centres of Excellence with specialised departments in all Government Medical Colleges of the state, including the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiana. The Committee would identify two to four departments in each Government Medical College, including AIMSS Chamiana, that have the potential to be developed as Centres of Excellence. These specialised centres would be envisaged to provide advanced multidisciplinary treatment for complex, rare and critical diseases requiring specialised expertise, advanced technology and facilities beyond the scope of conventional departmental services.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was planning to send medical students on exposure visits to abroad so as to enable them to learn global best practices and gain valuable experience, which could subsequently be utilised for the benefit of patients in the state. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the selection process for these exposure visits.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health Ashish Singhamar, Director Medical Education Dr. Gopal Beri and Mission Director NHM Pradeep Kumar Thakur were present in the meeting. Principals of the Medical Colleges also participated in the meeting through video conferencing.