Medical students heal a broken trail

Medical students of RGUHS, Jayanagar received public recognition by taking brooms to remove garbage and debris from the pavement and beautifying the area with color and Rangoli designs. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The footpath in front of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) campus in Jayanagar IV ‘T’ Block, which was a picture of neglect till recently, now not only looks creaky but is all over with fresh colors and rangoli thanks to the efforts of medical students.

In a special drive, RGUHS students cleared garbage and debris from the pavement, took away abandoned vehicles and beautified the surroundings with paint and rangoli.

For years, the footpath was in an unusable condition. The abandoned bus shelter became another problem and the surrounding area also became a place for undesirable activities. The situation was further aggravated by people using the compound wall as a public place to urinate.

Bhagawan BC, Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS highlighted this issue. The sports department of the university and the NSS wing recently started operations while discussions were held with BBMP officials and traffic police authorities to find a practical solution. Various options were considered for a month.

Finally, while riding together, the damaged road was completely renovated, the surroundings were cleaned and beautified with flower pots, the walls along the road were given a new coat of paint and rangoli designs were drawn.

The neighborhood seems to have been impressed by the students’ efforts. “Every day I commute to work and take the bus in front of RGUHS. Earlier, this area was unbearable because people would urinate there, so it was impossible to wait for the bus. The footpath was broken and garbage was strewn everywhere. But the students have transformed the place,” said Deepa, an employee of a private company.

In an interview with The Hindu, Dr. Bhagawan said, “Clean and safe trails are not only a civic imperative but an important part of public health. RGUHS believes it is our responsibility to ensure a clean, safe and accessible environment around our campuses.”

Published – 13 Sep 2026 0:45 AM IST