Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi assured a student from Madhya Pradesh that he would help arrange treatment for her eye condition at a reputed hospital during the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme held in Indore.
The assurance came after Priyanka Sengar, a student from Sendhwa in Barwani district, shared her struggle with an eye injury. According to reports, lime had accidentally fallen into her eye during childhood, resulting in loss of vision in one eye. She told Gandhi that her family could not afford specialised treatment at a major hospital.
During the interaction, Gandhi asked the student about the condition of her affected eye and whether she had received medical consultation earlier. He then assured her that he would arrange for her examination and treatment by a good doctor.
The moment drew attention at the event, which was organised as part of the Congress party’s outreach to students, job aspirants and young people. ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ has emerged as a platform where Gandhi has been raising concerns related to unemployment, recruitment delays, paper leaks, costly education and the lack of stable employment opportunities.
Addressing students at the Indore programme, Gandhi alleged that the country’s education and employment system was not adequately responding to the concerns of young people. He said students spend years preparing for competitive examinations, while their families invest heavily in school education, coaching, accommodation and travel.
He pointed out that delays in recruitment processes, cancelled examinations and allegations of paper leaks often leave students uncertain about their future. For candidates preparing for government jobs, such delays can have a direct impact on their careers, particularly when they are nearing the upper age limit for recruitment.
Gandhi has repeatedly argued that unemployment should not be seen only as an individual problem. He has said that young people often work hard, complete their education and prepare for exams, but still struggle because of limited opportunities, vacant posts not being filled and irregular recruitment processes.
The Congress leader also linked the concerns of students with broader issues of inequality. He said access to quality education, healthcare and employment should not depend solely on a family’s financial condition. The interaction with Priyanka Sengar brought this issue into focus, as her family’s inability to afford specialised medical treatment had become a barrier to addressing her eye condition.
While Gandhi’s assurance was welcomed by those present, the outcome will depend on whether medical consultation and treatment are arranged for the student in the coming days.
The programme also sparked a political exchange in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP government responded to Gandhi’s criticism by highlighting its record in education, employment and skill development. The Congress, meanwhile, maintained that the government must provide clearer answers on unemployment, recruitment vacancies and the conduct of competitive examinations.
The debate over youth issues has become increasingly important in Indian politics. A large number of students and job aspirants continue to raise concerns over examination cancellations, delayed results, rising coaching expenses and the challenge of finding secure employment after completing their studies.
For many families, particularly in rural and economically weaker sections, a government job remains a major source of hope for financial stability. Students often spend several years preparing for competitive examinations, and any disruption in the recruitment process can affect not only their career plans but also the finances and expectations of their families.
At the Indore event, Gandhi sought to place these concerns at the centre of the political debate. His interaction with Priyanka Sengar became one of the most talked-about moments of the programme, highlighting both an individual student’s struggle for affordable healthcare and the larger questions being raised over opportunities for India’s youth.
