Final-Year B.Sc. Nursing Students Visit Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A group of 41 final-year B.Sc. nursing students from a private college, accompanied by their faculty members, recently visited the Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development in Sanawadiya as part of an educational tour. The visit provided the students with hands-on experience in sustainable living and clean lifestyle practices.
The group was warmly received by the centre’s director, Padma Shri Janak Palta McGilligan, who conducted a detailed tour of the campus. Surrounded by diverse plant life, the students observed sustainable models in action, including organic farming, solar cooking, solar food processing using dryers, and renewable energy generation through solar and wind power.
Tuhina Jha, an intern at the centre with a background in economics, demonstrated a collection of 65 everyday products made through chemical-free and zero-waste processes. This showcased how sustainable alternatives can be integrated into daily life.
Following the campus tour, an interactive session was held where McGilligan shared her inspiring personal journey. She recalled how a year-long hospitalisation in the mid-1960s, following India’s first successful open-heart surgery, shaped her perspective on healthcare. She credited the compassionate care she received from nurses as a pivotal influence in her life and subsequent work.
McGilligan highlighted her extensive social service work, including empowering tribal girls, volunteering during a guinea worm eradication campaign in Jhabua, and persevering through multiple cancer surgeries to continue serving the community. Addressing the students, she emphasized, “A good nurse is more important than a doctor because they spend more time with patients, and their care significantly supports recovery.”
Faculty member Tanvi Jha spoke about the importance of internal health, underlining that a career in nursing demands strong mental resilience to manage stress and serve others with dedication.
The students also shared their reflections on the visit. Aditya Baghel expressed that the experience shifted his understanding of sustainability and highlighted the urgency to preserve natural resources. Alisha Shaikh found inspiration in the centre’s zero-waste approach, motivating her to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Payal Gautam noted the positive effects of a chemical-free environment on both physical and mental health.
Rakhee was deeply moved by McGilligan’s lifelong dedication to social work and community service. Jamuna Digal found the solar-powered cooking and preservation techniques particularly valuable, saying they encouraged her to practice eco-friendly habits.
This educational visit not only enhanced the students’ knowledge of sustainable practices but also reinforced the importance of compassionate nursing and community engagement.
Story by Staff Reporter
