New Delhi: The Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region has proposed helicopter-based medical facilities for far-flung areas in North-East for the first time. While speaking to mediapersons here Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "The government is contemplating to introduce regular air dispensary facility for medical assistance to the people living in remote places in the North-Eastern states."
The Minister also mentioned that his ministry has already prepared a proposal to start this service with the collaboration between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Governments of North-Eastern states, the centre will take the decision soon.
The necessary medical devices and medicines will be kept in a portion of both Pawan Hans helicopters and the helicopters of the respective state governments. Even the local medical experts will be assigned twice in a week to stay in two to three places for the medication of the patients, sources said.
Initially, this service will be started as a pilot project in Manipur and poll-bound Meghalaya with special medical experts. The Minister further added that the DoNER ministry is also seeking cooperation from the Ministry of Defense as the Army and the Air Force have already been supporting in supply of foodgrains and other essential items in insurmountable areas.
The NDA government at the centre also claimed the Ministry of Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport and Highways and Shipping have worked rapidly in the last three years to enhance more connectivity to this region. In Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya rail connectivity has already been expanded and soon states like Mizoram and Manipur will be also connected with the rail link, the minister further added.
For the first time, North-East will be connected to neighboring country Bangladesh through rail connectivity where a 23-km railway track will connect the capital city of poll-bound Tripura, Agartala with Akhaura soon.
Nineteen waterways have been identified through rivers also. A road network of bridges and roads is being established in remote areas of the NE states. In this order, a new airport is being developed near Namchi in Shilong and in Sikkim and availability of helicopters is being increased.