Senior journalist Mukesh S Singh, News Editor of ‘The Hitavada’, Raipur, was conferred with the prestigious Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Seva Samman at UDFCON 2025, held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The award was announced by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour & Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, during the inaugural session of the national conference. The formal conferment was carried out later by senior UDF dignitaries in his honour. Union Minister Dr Mandaviya, recalling his tenure as Union Health Minister, said, “India’s doctors stood like sentinels during the pandemic.”

 

Prof. (Dr) B Srinivas, DDG (ME), DGHS and Former Secretary, NMC, stated that the Government of India is working on multifaceted reforms to address the challenges faced by Junior Residents (JRs), Senior Residents (SRs), Postgraduate (PG) and Undergraduate (UG) students in medical education. Dr Arvind K Drave, Senior Consultant, PGMEB, NMC, expressed concern over the rising cases of ragging. His remarks were supported by Prof. (Dr) Om Prakash, Deputy MS, IHBAS, who stressed the need for institutional mental health reforms. Prof (Dr) Nimesh G Desai, Former Director, IHBAS, contributed with a psychological overview, advocating preventive mental health frameworks across campuses.

 

Dr Sunil Khatri, Medicolegal Expert, Supreme Court of India, and Dr Charu Mathur, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court, shared legal perspectives on the escalating number of litigation cases. Dr Lakshya Mittal, National President, United Doctors Front (UDF), said, “Mukesh S Singh’s journalism has consistently held power to account with truth and courage.” Those present from UDF’s national core team were Dr Arun Kumar, Dr Yagika Pareek, Dr Bhanu Kumar, Dr Rakesh Beniwal, Dr Amit Vyas, Dr Bharat Pareek, Dr Hritwik Bhardwaj, Dr Rhythm, Dr Shubh Pratap Solanki, Dr Mohammad Akil, Dr Gaurav Raj, Dr Yogendra Pal Yadav, Dr Hanuman Bishnoi, Dr Hemendra Shekhawat, Dr Prashant Sharma, Dr Manish Jha and Dr Harshit Naraniwal.