Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday, 29 August announced that a dedicated day-care centre for cancer patients will be inaugurated at Vidisha Medical College on 8 September. The facility is set to serve patients not only from Vidisha but also from surrounding districts including Raisen, Sehore, Dewas, Sagar, and parts of Bundelkhand such as Ashoknagar.

Key Developments

'September 8 will be a very special and historic day for Vidisha and Vidisha district. A day-care centre for cancer patients will be inaugurated here,' Chouhan said during his visit to the city.

The inauguration is expected to be attended by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh and Madhya Pradesh Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla.

AIIMS Bhopal to Support the Centre

Chouhan confirmed that AIIMS Bhopal will initially assist in running the centre until all required facilities are fully operational. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to be signed between Vidisha Medical College and AIIMS Bhopal to formalise the operational support arrangement. This partnership is intended to ensure clinical standards are maintained from day one, even as the centre builds its own capacity.

Women Empowerment Announcements

Chouhan was in Vidisha alongside his wife Sadhna Singh Chouhan to participate in events marking Bhujariya and Raksha Bandhan. He met women beneficiaries of the state's Ladli Behna scheme, during which women tied rakhis on his wrist.

The Union Minister also announced skill development programmes aimed at boosting financial self-reliance among women. Two training initiatives will be launched through Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs): a 30-day beauty parlour training course starting 5 September across Vidisha, Raisen, and Sehore, and a 31-day tailoring training programme. Upon completion, participants will be linked with self-employment opportunities through bank linkages.

Impact on Citizens

The cancer day-care centre addresses a significant gap in oncology infrastructure across central Madhya Pradesh, where patients from smaller districts have historically had to travel to larger cities for treatment. The AIIMS Bhopal tie-up adds institutional credibility to what is otherwise a district-level facility, potentially improving access for economically vulnerable patients in the Bundelkhand belt. The skill training programmes, if implemented on schedule, could benefit women across three districts from the first week of September.

What Happens Next

The MoU between Vidisha Medical College and AIIMS Bhopal is expected to be formalised ahead of the 8 September inauguration. The RSETI-led beauty parlour training is set to begin 5 September, ahead of the cancer centre launch. Officials have indicated that bank linkages for trained women will be pursued in the weeks following programme completion.