Khilkhilat
Gujarati: ખિલખિલાટ
Commercial?No
CountryIndia
Launched2012
Gujarat

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]

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. 1 2 "Modi launches health schemes, says its not poll gimmick". Business Standard India. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "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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