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Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University (ACU) on Friday.
Built at a cost of Rs 200 crore, the sprawling 16-acre campus houses a 1,000-bed hospital and educational facilities for 4,000 students. In his address, Shah lauded the efforts of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt for its service-oriented approach rooted in the principle of 'Sarva jan hitaya, sarva jan sukhaya (The welfare and happiness of all).'
Shah said, 'This complex will become a great medium of service in a true sense.' He praised the Mutt's wide-ranging social impact – from running rural health centres and providing free treatment to supporting education for underprivileged children.
Referring to the legacy of Jagadguru Dr Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, the former chief pontiff of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt, and the efforts of Dr Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, the current pontiff of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Shah said the Mutt has successfully combined spirituality, culture, and modern education, connecting youth with tradition while enabling them to find a respectable place in society.
He said the Mutt's activities are 'anchored on nine pillars – Anna (food), Akshara (education), Arogya (health), Adhyatmika (spirituality), Aashraya (shelter), Aranya (environment), Aakaalu (disaster relief), Anukampa (compassion), and Anubandh (community bonding).' 'It is a model for how religious institutions can help strengthen social unity while preserving culture and values,' he added.
Shah also cited key central government interventions such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh for 60 crore people, the construction of nearly 12 crore toilets, the launch of the Fit India Movement, Mission Indradhanush for child immunisation, and the Poshan Abhiyan to address maternal and child nutrition.
He further pointed to the expansion in medical education infrastructure under the Narendra Modi government: 'The number of AIIMS institutions has increased from 7 to 23, medical colleges from 387 to 780, MBBS seats from 51,000 to 1.18 lakh, and postgraduate seats from 31,000 to 74,000.'
Speaking about affordable healthcare access, he noted that under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana, essential medicines are now available at 20 per cent of the market rate through over 15,000 centres.
The 1,000-bed hospital on the newly inaugurated ACU campus has facilities for cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology, and transplants, including kidney, liver, and cornea.
