“Alumni are the reflection of our past, representation of our present and link to our future,” says Chancellor

17 cohorts, 16 convocations and 1800 alumni all over the world in various top positions

Ajman: Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman recognized the most outstanding accomplishments of its alumni at the ‘GMU Global Alumni Summit 2020’ organized by the GMU Students Affairs Department, held at Thumbay Medicity on 29th February 2020. 

The event brought together GMU alumni from around the world, joined by the academic leadership of GMU, faculty, staff and students, in a celebration of the significant contributions of the alumni community to their communities and professions. The event recognized their most outstanding achievements. The awards in honor of the GMU Achievers were presented by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder, President Board of Trustees, GMU who also officially released the Alumni E-newsletter and the Alumni Portal. 

In his welcome address, Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Vice Chancellor – Academics mentioned that GMU’s alumni now has 1803 graduates, with 70% females and 30% male graduates, spread across the world, with UAE nationals constituting 10% of the alumni, GCC nationals 7%, other Arabs 14%, Asians 44%, Africans 16% and other nationals 10%.

Addressing the alumni, Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the Chancellor of GMU outlined the significant achievements of the University in recent times. The Chancellor also announced several benefits for the alumni, including scholarships for post-graduate programs, adjunct faculty positions at GMU, employment opportunities and full access to GMU’s e-library learning resources. “You are our best ambassadors offering invaluable advocacies across your personal and professional networks. You are the reflection of GMU’s past, representation of its present and the link to its future,” he said to the alumni. 

Awards were presented to the following alumni achievers: 

Healthcare: Government Service UAE - Dr. Noha Yaseen, Consultant Cardiologist, Al Qasimi Hospital, Sharjah; Dr. Asma Abdillahi Ali, CCAD, Semi-Government by Mubdhala, Abu Dhabi government; Ms. Ayesha Mohammed Abdulla Kajoor Al Nuaimi.

Healthcare: Research - Dr. Ahmad Ashraf Fakhri Ghazal.

Healthcare Delivery System: Entrepreneurship – Dr. Ismail Sayeed, Founder & CEO, ViOS; Ms. Jameela Arif Hussain; Dr. Sheetal Bambhani.

Healthcare Delivery System: Private Sector / Leadership - Dr. Shihad Khader, Chief Operating Officer, Thumbay Hospital Fujairah; Dr. Meera Obaid AlSalami.

Healthcare Delivery System: NGO / Humanitarian Service - Dr. Faraj Khalid Faraj Mohamed Almehairbi.

Arts: Dr. Marwa Abdulwahid Alalwani, Dentist, Munich Dental Clinic.

The awardees recounted their experiences as GMU students, and explained how those experiences continue to enrich their professional lives even today. They thanked Dr. Thumbay Moideen for creating such a wonderful university which shaped their lives and career achievements. Current GMU students entertained their alumni with various talent performances.

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New Delhi: The Union Budget for 2025 is set to be presented in Parliament on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. As the nation awaits the financial roadmap of the third term of Narendra Modi-led government, a look back at the 1973-74 budget reveals one of India's most financially challenging periods.

The 1973-74 budget, presented by then-Finance Minister Yashwantrao Chavan under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is often referred to as the ‘Black Budget’ due to its unprecedented fiscal deficit of ₹550 crore. This was a significant sum at the time, reflecting the severe economic strain India faced in the aftermath of the 1971 war with Pakistan.

The war had drained government resources, and a series of natural disasters, including drought, led to a sharp decline in agricultural production. This worsened the financial crisis, with declining revenues and rising expenditures. Presenting the budget, Chavan acknowledged the economic distress, stating that the drought had caused a major drop in food grain production, which contributed to the widening deficit.

In response, the government allocated ₹56 crore for the nationalisation of coal mines, insurance companies, and the Indian Copper Corporation. The move aimed to strengthen the energy sector and ensure state control over key industries. However, the large deficit forced the government to implement cost-cutting measures and financial discipline in subsequent years.

As the Modi 3.0 government prepares to unveil the 2025-26 budget, various sectors are putting forth their demands, including tax reliefs and economic stimulus measures. Social media is rife with memes attacking the Finance Minsiter for the tax policies and it's impact on the middle class. The government’s first estimates project a 7.3% GDP growth for 2023-24, shaping expectations for the upcoming budget.