Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the nation can realise the benefits of demographic dividend if its citizens are healthy in all respects, physical, mental and spiritual.

Virtually addressing the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) on its 63rd Foundation Day, he said the country’s strong and youthful human resources must be nurtured properly to leverage their strength in making country stronger and self-reliant.

He complimented the NAMS for its contribution to the growth of Indian health sector, medical education and research, as well as formulation of relevant health policies and establishment of six AIIMS all over the country.

Highlighting health as a key element in the development of any nation, the defence minister said healthier people will be able to work for the progress of the country in a better manner. It is for this reason doctors and medical practitioners are respected and revered.

Listing out the steps taken by the government in ensuring health for all, Mr Rajnath Singh called on the medical fraternity to focus more on research of public health related issues.

“During Covid we all realized how important research is in the health sector. The benefits of any research done in the health sector are not only quick, but with that research we can help our country as well as many countries of the world. Even during Covid, we saw how the vaccines made by Indian scientists and researchers benefited not only us but the whole world,” he said.

He elaborated on the importance of the broader aspects of health which go beyond having no illness and are linked with the vision of ‘Healthy India, Strong India’. He said “according to World Health Organisation (WHO), good health encompasses complete physical, mental and social well-being of a person. That is, health does not just mean that you do not have any disease, health is a much wider concept than this. It includes healthy life style, physical fitness, mental health, and social well-being.”

The defence minister highlighted the significance of social well-being which he viewed as the third dimension of health besides physical and mental health. He expressed concern that social well-being is facing challenges as people move from their native places to urban centers and other places in search of work.

Cut off from their roots, they feel lonely and insecure which impacts their health adversely, he said. In addition, nuclear family and sub nuclear family have become more prominent with even single parenting emerging on the scene.

Rajnath Singh added that such developments, if left unchecked, may endanger the institution of marriage and single person households may become common.