Odisha Minister Inaugurates Dedicated Ambulance for Remote Tribal Villages in Khurda District

Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to rural healthcare services in Odisha, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday inaugurated a dedicated ambulance service for two remote Gram Panchayats—Niladriprasad and Damiabarbara—in the Banpur Block of Khurda district.

The Force Trax model ambulance, equipped with essential life-saving medical equipment, is set to cater to the health needs of tribal communities in these challenging terrains. The service aims to provide timely medical intervention in emergencies, especially in areas where access to healthcare has long remained difficult.

The vehicle has been donated by LIC Cards under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to the Bhubaneswar-based NGO, Health and Development Initiatives (HDI), which works extensively in these two MADA (Modified Area Development Approach) Panchayats—home to predominantly Scheduled Tribe populations.

At a ceremonial event, the Minister cut the ribbon to mark the launch, and along with Siddhartha Mohanty, Chairman of LIC of India, flagged off the ambulance. The vehicle key was formally handed over by Mohanty and Rajeev Sachdeva, Director of LIC Cards, to Braj Das, Director of HDI.

The ambulance will be stationed at the Niladriprasad Gram Panchayat headquarters and operated under the supervision of HDI in coordination with the Niladri Krushi Kalyan Samabaya Samiti (NKKSS), local PRI members, and community leaders. It is expected to significantly reduce travel time to the nearest health centres, especially during emergencies involving maternal care, accidents, and other critical cases.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Harichandan emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare in rural regions, particularly in tribal belts. “This initiative is a major stride toward our goal of inclusive and equitable health services for every citizen, irrespective of location,” he said.

Samir Mohanty, Ex-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (Odisha) and President of the Odisha Olympics Association, was also present and acknowledged for his pivotal role in facilitating the CSR funding for the ambulance. Pravat Nayak, Secretary of NKKSS, Pitabas Nayak, and several officials from LIC India, along with local representatives and villagers, attended the inauguration and welcomed the initiative as a timely and much-needed intervention.