sidhivinayaktimes Shimla। In a landmark achievement that highlights the power of youth-led service, PGIMER Chandigarh’s volunteer initiative SARATHI has crossed the milestone of 100,000 hours of voluntary service, setting a national benchmark in structured, disciplined and compassionate volunteering. Launched on 6th May 2024, the programme has engaged nearly 1,700 student volunteers, each contributing an average of 60 hours to support patients, assist the elderly and differently-abled, guide attendants, and maintain order across OPDs, inpatient areas, emergency services, and diagnostic blocks. PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal emphasized that the true strength of institutions lies not only in technology or infrastructure but in citizens who give their time selflessly, and SARATHI has demonstrated that volunteering can be meaningful only when it is consistent, accountable and rooted in empathy.
He added that every hour of service represents a young person choosing compassion over convenience, and when multiplied 100,000 times, it reshapes the culture of care in a public healthcare setup. The success of SARATHI, according to Deputy Director (Administration) Mr. Pankaj Rai, lies in its structured framework with defined roles, SOPs and supervision, ensuring that voluntary service complements clinical care without disrupting it. Volunteers undergo rigorous orientation in communication, patient dignity, confidentiality and stress management, making their service sensitive and professional. Beyond patient support, SARATHI has become a platform for value-based learning, helping students understand social inequities and public health realities, and PGIMER is now working on scaling and strengthening the model to inspire similar initiatives across medical institutions nationwide.
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