Nearly six decades of quiet, consistent service — and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made it a point to show up and say thank you. On Sunday, 4 October 2026, Khandu attended the annual award ceremony at Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar, applauding the doctors, nurses and staff whose daily commitment keeps one of the state's most trusted healthcare institutions running.

Six decades of service, from Aalo to Itanagar

The Ramakrishna Mission first set foot in Arunachal Pradesh in 1966, beginning its work in Aalo — then a remote outpost in what was still a frontier territory. In the nearly 60 years since, the Mission has expanded its footprint across the state, with the Itanagar hospital standing as one of its most visible anchors. The institution is run under the broader umbrella of the Ramakrishna Mission (RK Mission), the monastic organisation founded in the tradition of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, whose network of hospitals, schools and rural-service centres spans across India and beyond.

Why an annual award ceremony matters in a border state

For a state like Arunachal Pradesh — geographically vast, topographically challenging and historically underserved by public health infrastructure — institutions like the RK Mission Hospital fill a gap that government systems alone have struggled to bridge. The annual award ceremony is not merely ceremonial; it is a formal acknowledgement of frontline healthcare workers who often serve communities in difficult conditions with limited resources. Khandu's attendance signals state-level recognition of the Mission's role as a long-standing partner in public health delivery.

In his post on X, the Chief Minister wrote: 'It was a pleasure today to join the annual award ceremony at Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar and applaud the doctors, nurses and staff whose dedication keeps this institution serving people with compassion and commitment.' He added: 'May the Mission continue its noble service to Arunachal for many more decades.'

Khandu's message to every doctor, nurse and staff member

The Chief Minister directed his appreciation to each tier of the hospital's workforce — physicians, nursing staff and administrative personnel alike. The phrasing was deliberate: in healthcare institutions, the burden of service is rarely carried by doctors alone, and the explicit mention of nurses and staff members broadens the recognition beyond the usual hierarchy. The post is marked 1/2, indicating a follow-up tweet was also published as part of the same thread.

As Arunachal continues to push for better healthcare access across its 26 districts, the partnership between the state government and civil-society institutions like the RK Mission remains one of the more durable models of service delivery in India's northeast.