Twinkle Kalia

Twinkle Kalia (born 1982) is an Indian woman who lives in Delhi. She funds and drives ambulances. She was given the highest award for women, the Nari Shakti Puraskar, in 2017.[1]

Twinkle Kalia
Born1982
NationalityIndian
Occupationselling insurance
Known forrunning a free ambulance service
SpouseHimangshu Kalia

Life

Kalia was born in 1980. When she came to marry her fiancé in 2002 he said that he did not want a dowry, but he did drive a rented ambulance and he would like to have his own. His driving force was that he had to go to work at 14 because his father went into a coma for six years. A coma he might not have had if the family hadn't wasted hours trying to find an ambulance.[2]

Kalia's moment was when she had liver cancer and realised the value of ambulances and care. She and her husband both sell insurance for a living but they have put all their spare cash into buying and operating ambulances.[2] Kalia has also suffered from jaundice which she believes was caused by uncovered drains. She complained but nothing happened and she realised that the only way was to become a politician. Kalia stood for the local council in 2017.[3]

She was given the Nari Shakti Puraskar award in 2019. The "2018" award was made in the Presidential Palace by the President of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present.[4]

In 2019, they had operations in other cities too and she and Himangshu Kalia met Mamata Banerjee and mayor Firhad Hakim to discuss setting up another of their groups of ambulances in Kolkata.[5]

References
  1. Nitnaware, Himanshu (2 July 2021). "Free Ambulance Rides for 80000 Patients: Couple's Story of 20 Years of Sacrifices". The Better India. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. Pankhuri, Yadav. "How a personal loss 25 years ago inspired a mission to save lives | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. Banka, Richa (21 March 2017). "City's 'first woman ambulance driver' joins civic poll fray". DNA India. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. "Nari Shakti Puraskar - Gallery". narishaktipuraskar.wcd.gov.in. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. "Free ambulance service provider to come to Kolkata". The Statesman. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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