IPPNW-Students India

Students' Interactive Session on "Peace, Health and Development"

Date: June 24th, 2004, Amritsar, Punjab

Medical students in an interactive session on PEACE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT called upon leaders of India and Pakistan to put an end to the arms race in the region. This interactive session was organized by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) in collaboration with Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Amritsar(Punjab State). Medical Students from NDMVPS Medical College, Nasik (Maharashtra State) traveled all the way about 2000 kms to have a dialogue with their counter parts in Amritsar. Their team comprised of Dr.Jeetendra Singh, Miss.Dipti Mulay, Miss.Purva Chhibar, Miss Swara Palekar, Miss. Teen Trivedi, Mr.Gautam Naik, Mr.Deepk Dangwal and Miss. Neha Venkatesh. This team of students from Nasik was originally scheduled to be part of the delegation which was to cross the border on 24th June, 2004 to go to Karachi. Not deterred by the postponement of the Karachi Seminar these students decided they must carry on some activity on the same day and made it up to have dialogue in Amritsar. Following papers were presented :

1. Health Care Vs Arms Race - Miss.Dipti Mulay
2. Strategy to avert a Nuclear conflict in South Asia - Purva Chhibar & Swara Palekar,
3. Violence and Mental Health - Miss. Teena Trivedi
4. Role of Medical Youth in promoting peace and health – Mr.Gautam Naik.
5. Towards Health Through Peace – Miss.Neha Venkatesh and Mr.Deepak Dangwal

Two sessions were held, where extensive debate took place between students on the issue of causes & effects of conflicts/violence and the method to resolve them. Students overwhelmingly felt that steps must be taken by the respective governments to abolish nuclear weapons, check the proliferation of small arms, put an end to the arms trade and increase people’s exchange programes for confidence building. They decided to work mover vigorously for peace in the region. Peace, they all felt essential for the South Asian region which even though one of the most deprived regions in the world is spending huge amounts on the arms race which if diverted could lead to several times better health of the people.

In the beginning Dr.Arun Mitra, General Secretary IDPD gave a brief introduction of the aims and objectives of the IDPD. He called upon the young students to come forward for issues that concern our health. Dr A.S.Padda, Dr.Tejbir Singh and Dr.Sham Sunder Dipti of the Dept. of Community Medicine patronized the event.

Ms. Neha Venkatesh, Member, Students' Wing, IDPD