Khilkhilat

Khilkhilat (lit. 'giggles')[1] is the name given to a special kind of ambulance in the state of Gujarat in India. Khilkhilat ambulances are specially designed to drop the mother and the newborn child at their home free of cost.[2]

Khilkhilat
Gujarati: ખિલખિલાટ
Commercial?No
CountryIndia
Launched2012
Gujarat

History

Khilkjilat ambulance service was started in Gujarat in September 2012 by the state's then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The project was launched in collaboration with GVK EMRI, a non-profit organisation. During the launch 20 ambulance vans were prepared to provide service and more ambulances were added gradually.[3] In 2012, initially, the project budget was ₹2 billion (US$25 million).[1]

Features

Khilkhilat ambulances are pink in color, with cartoons over its body, and funny horn that sounds like a laughing child's voice. It does not a have siren as in common ambulances.[4][5] This ambulance also provides nutrition kit for the newly born and it also includes list of vaccines to be given at specific times and information about nearby government hospitals.[2] Khilkhilat ambulance is fitted with cushions and LCD screen giving information to the mother and her relatives about childcare.[2]

Other projects

Khilkhilat inspired launching of similar projects in other Indian states. In 2015 Maharashtra health department announced to launch Vatsalaya with a similar task to provide free transport to newly born children and their mothers.[6]

References
  1. "Modi launches health schemes, says its not poll gimmick". Business Standard India. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. "Neo-natal: 'Khilkhilat' van attends its first case in Gandhinagar". The Times of India. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. "CM forms new body for drug delivery". Indian Express. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. Narendra Modi dedicates Khilkhilat, Amrutam, GMSC(Photos/Videos)
  5. I assure the poor, even in their worst illness, the Government is with them: CM at launch of health schemes
  6. "State to make a newborn's first ride home from hospital a special one". The Indian Express. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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