Minister flags off ‘Doctor on wheels’ ambulance

Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 11

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday flagged off ‘Aarogya Doctor on Wheels’ ambulance to provide doorstep medical services in remote areas of Udhampur district. He also held a ‘public durbar’ and inaugurated an exhibition by women self-help groups (SHGs).

‘Aarogya doctors on wheels’ ambulance is aimed at providing healthcare services to people of far-flung villages at their doorsteps free of cost, Singh, the minister of state in the PMO, said.

Participating in an exhibition on National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in his home constituency Udhampur, the minister explained the working of the mobile ambulance and said the entire exercise of patient examination and providing a prescription is accomplished in about 45 minutes, which may in normal course of action, take days if the patient has to be physically examined at a hospital.

The minister also held a public durbar at Chenani and interacted with women self-help groups (SHGs) and startups. “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is not only supporting women SHGs to increase their livelihoods but is also promoting avenues of self-employment for the local youth,” he said.

The minister said the women SHGs engaged through this mission have become ‘atmanirbhar’ themselves and are also providing employment opportunities to other women and the youth.

“Lakhpati Didis–SHG Didis who are earning sustainable income and have become role models in the society, will transform the rural economy,” he said. Singh said DAY-NRLM, a flagship programme of the government, is the world’s largest initiative to improve the livelihoods of the poor.

Talking about the infrastructure development of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, he said roads under PMGSY and highways are being built at a rapid pace with an objective to improve both connectivity in remote areas and reduce travel time.