Tata Chemicals' TCSRD brings the Life Line Express to Mithapur
The world's first hospital on wheels — the Life Line
Express will be running through Jamnagar district for the
first time between November 21, 2004 and December 21, 2004.
Impact India Foundation is the managing organisation, while
Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), the
community development wing of Tata Chemicals Limited, forms
the sponsor for this event. The state government's health
and family welfare department, Indian Railways, NGOs, medical
and para medical professionals are some of the other organisations
involved in this cause.
The journey of the Life Line Express started on July 16,
1991 and caters to the urgent needs of the handicapped in
remote and inaccessible areas. The railway network in the
country, which covers more than 70,000 kilometres of track,
acts as a catalyst thereby creating the potential of bringing
vital health services to the remote corners of the country.
Said Alka Talwar, head, community development, TCSRD, "The
concept of Life Line Express ensures that world-class medical
facilities reach the remotest of places, thus giving the rural
folk an opportunity to avail of the medical facilities which
they otherwise are deprived of."
The Life Line Express consists of four railway coaches equipped
with sophisticated medical and surgical facilities, as well
as a training centre for doctors. It provides on-the-spot
diagnostic, medical and surgical treatment completely free
of charge.
Some of the services the Life Line Express provides include
restoration of movement to polio affected persons, restoration
of sight through cataract operations, intra-ocular lens implants,
counselling guidance and referral services, cleft lip surgeries,
middle ear surgeries and many more.
Said B Sudhakar, head, corporate HR and communications, Tata
Chemicals, "True to the Tata Group philosophy and central
to the corporate philosophy of Tata Chemicals is the commitment
of improving the quality of life in the communities we serve.
TCSRD has always undertaken development initiatives and have
been involved in partnering and networking with various development
agencies, corporate bodies and NGOs to implement appropriate
community development programmes. The Life Line Express is
one such initiative that is close to our heart and is a concept
that helps provide services in places where there are no great
hospital facilities."
The Life Line Express at Mithapur will be inaugurated on
November 20, 2004, and the services will be available up to
December 21, 2004. Today, Tata Chemicals, through TCSRD is
bringing to Mithapur (Dwarka Taluka and Jamnagar District)
the world famous Community Health Project of Impact India
through this Life Line Express.
About TCSRD
Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL) set up the Tata Chemicals Society
for Rural Development (TCSRD) in 1980 to promote its social
objectives for the communities in and around Mithapur and
Babrala, where its facilities are located.
The Society works to protect and nurture the rural populations
in and around TCL's facilities, and helps people achieve self-sufficiency
in natural resource management, livelihood support and the
building of health and education infrastructure.
Taking into account the different geographical spread of
the two regions and their individual subcultures, different
agricultural, economic and development programmes have been
implemented in Mithapur (in Okhamandal) and Babrala.