Suparjya swain 
Bhubaneswar: In a heartwarming expansion of his low-cost healthcare initiative, Dr. Shankar Ramchandani, Assistant Professor of Medicine at VIMSAR, has launched a One Rupee Dental Clinic in Burla, Odisha. The new facility is part of his ongoing mission to provide affordable healthcare to the underprivileged.
The dental clinic is spearheaded by his wife, Dr. Sikha Ramchandani, a dentist and former employee of the Divisional Railway Hospital, Sambalpur. Having taken a break from her profession six years ago to focus on raising their daughters, Dr. Sikha has now returned to serve society. She invested ₹3 lakh from her savings to set up the clinic near VIMSAR, offering services such as fillings, extractions, and cleanings—all at a nominal fee.
“Dental care is often out of reach for the poor, and my husband’s work inspired me to contribute in my own way,” said Dr. Sikha, a BDS graduate from Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai.
Dr. Shankar, widely known as the ‘One Rupee Doctor’, began his initiative in 2021 by opening a clinic that charges just ₹1 for treatment, operating from 6 PM to 8 PM daily after his official duty hours. The initiative has earned widespread praise for its compassionate outreach to the economically weaker sections.
“It’s heartening to see my wife join this mission. Together, we aim to ease the burden of healthcare costs for the needy,” Dr. Shankar said.
