A lone crusader, Dr. Vinod Kumar Jain, Sikar, Rajasthan, quit his flourishing medical practice of four decades and downed shutters of hospitals owned by him to embark on a national mission to save lives from silent heart attacks. Member of the prestigious European Resuscitation Council, American Heart Association, he has trained over 2 lakh people, self-funded campaigns and collaborations with government and social bodies to make CPR and AED training a national priority, as part of India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
What is your vision CPR and AED propelling the Viksit Bharat 2047 dream?
As India marches toward its 100th year of independence in 2047 with the goal of becoming a global economic superpower, saving lives must be at the heart of national progress. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of deaths outside hospitals, and most of these lives can be saved with just one skill-CPR. Training the public in bystander CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and making Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available in public places can turn ordinary citizens into life-savers. It’s time to make CPR training mandatory in school curriculum. This concern becomes even more urgent as an increasing number of young individuals, often in the most productive years of their lives, are succumbing to sudden cardiac arrest without receiving timely help from a by stander. If CPR is made a mass skill, countless lives can be saved. Every life saved is a national asset preserved. NITI Aayog can consider including CPR training in its Health Vision Document, as in a Viksit Bharat, every life must matter. CPR can become India’s global hallmark of “Seva and Sankalp”.
What is the blueprint being developed to make CPR and AED use a national movement?
My goal is to make CPR training compulsory in all secondary schools, which is the only easy way of making every citizen a life saver. In addition, we can have multi-pronged approach by ensuring that all driving licenses will be issued only after procuring CPR training certificate. CPR training and AED use can be imparted to police personnel, teachers, general public, NGOs, supported by media campaigns and various government ministries.
Every year, 2.5 to 3 crore students get admission in secondary school which is 2% of the population. If we train all of them, then we will have over 60 crore trained first responders by 2047, which is almost 40 to 45 % of the projected population.
What have been your initiatives for creating CPR soldiers?
One of the most impactful strategies to make large percentage of public be life savers is to introduce mandatory CPR training in the school curriculum. Children and adolescents not only respond better but also retain the knowledge effectively, as demonstrated in my pilot project in Sikar district. In addition to school-based training, I have trained thousands of individuals from the general public and healthcare community—free of cost. In government schools, physical education instructors, principals, and science teachers were trained and have begun imparting CPR instruction to students for just one class period annually. This model, if scaled, can create a generation of First Responders—lifesavers in every household—building the foundation for a safer and more resilient India.
I have also trained thousands of doctors and paramedical staff in Basic Life Support (BLS). Drawing inspiration from certain European countries where nurses are trained to teach CPR to students, similar model can also be followed in India. My initiatives have reached diverse sectors, including live CPR demonstrations for Hon’ble Judges and Advocates at the Rajasthan High Court, where I also installed a self-funded Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to mandate CPR training in schools.
Furthermore, I have submitted formal representations to various government ministries and departments, urging the inclusion of CPR in the school curriculum. My outreach has extended to the Rajasthan Police Academy, traffic police personnel, multiple NGOs, and tens of thousands of people during the Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj in February 2025. I have also actively participated in international conferences and visited hospitals and AED installations across several countries to study best practices.
Can CPR training and AED manufacturing become a reality?
Yes, CPR training and AED manufacturing can absolutely become a reality in India with the right policy push and institutional collaboration. By stopping the import of manikins and AEDs, and instead becoming a global exporter, India can save crores in foreign currency. I am actively engaging with biomedical engineering departments at IITs and MNITs to develop indigenous solutions. Institutions like DRDO, BHEL, private meditech firms, and startups can play a leading role, supported by the Ministries of Electronics and Health.
We must also end the financial burden on our doctors and paramedics who currently pay hefty fees for Basic and Advanced Life Support (BLS & ACLS) certifications from foreign bodies like the American Heart Association. With proactive government support, India can develop its own nationally accepted protocols and training standards. The National Medical Commission and State Medical Councils should officially recognize only indigenous certifications delivered through accredited Indian institutions.
How are you leveraging technology for futuristic CPR and AED modules?
I am actively leveraging technology to modernize CPR and AED training through innovative, future-ready approaches. This includes gamified mobile apps that test CPR skills in a competitive format, and VR-based CPR simulators that provide immersive training experiences for students and healthcare workers. These tools are designed to make learning engaging, measurable, and repeatable.
I am also closely involved in the development of smart manikins that offer real-time feedback on the quality of chest compressions which is the key to mastering CPR. At present, India relies heavily on imported manikins and AED devices, which are expensive. To address this, we must develop high-quality indigenous CPR manikins—ranging from basic to advanced feedback-enabled models—and produce them at scale. These will not only meet India’s domestic needs but also be exported to other low- and middle-income countries.
Similarly, we must develop affordable and multilingual AEDs tailored for public use, especially in regional languages. Indigenous AED simulators and digital training modules can empower first responders. This aligns perfectly with the ‘Make in India’ vision—building Indian solutions for global needs. The goal is clear: “Make in India, Save in India.”
How do you see a ‘Safer India’ by 2047 being realised?
The vision of Viksit Bharat must include universal access to life-saving interventions like CPR and AED as sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency where an ordinary citizen-if trained-can save a life in minutes. To build a nation that values every life, we must indigenize, democratize, and scale CPR and AED systems across India through a Make in India, Skill India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat approach. For this, we need collective willpower, policy, and partnerships.
I perceive Viksit Bharat 2047 to be known for CPR and AED readiness where there is a CPR-trained individual in every household, an AED within 3 minutes of any public place, indigenous manikins and AEDs exported globally, every healthcare worker certified through Indian programs, and save on dollars paid for foreign CPR certification. This is not a dream. This is achievable.
I would say, “Jo karey apno se pyaar, woh seekhey CPR.”