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PATNA: Scenes of ailing ones being carried on cots to hospitals are not uncommon in the hinterland of Bihar. One such scene gave inspiration to an 
entrepreneur from Bihar to find a more dignified way of carrying such patients in rural areas to hospitals.

Meet Vijay Jain, who has designed an ambulance keeping in mind the ground realities of rural Bihar. Owner of a firm, which specialises in manufacturing electronics goods, Jain worked for over two months to design this ambulance.

Its unique feature is that it has been built using the body of a tricycle. While the front seat has been left untouched, the rear portion has been designed on the pattern of a normal ambulance.

It consists of a six and a half feet stretcher, one oxygen cylinder, oxygen mask and the necessary support system for administering drip to patients. While special attention has been paid to ventilation with well designed windows, the ambulance is also fitted with a solar cell which supplies power for lighting. A socket is also there which can be used for fitting electrical gadgets that might be needed in emergency cases. One attendant can accompany the patient in this special vehicle.

Each of this specially designed ambulance costs Rs 45,000. The designer has applied for a patent of this product.

"I felt very bad whenever I saw ailing people in rural areas being carried on cots to hospitals. This ambulance will help change the practice which projects a very poor picture of our rural areas," said Jain.

Incidentally, the first such ambulance was unveiled here on Sunday by minister Giriraj Singh. Rotary Chanakya played a supportive role in the making of this ambulance and its members, including president Binod Todi, were present in the ceremony.

Sharing his future plans, Jain said many organisations have promised to give funds for such ambulances. "Going by the present response, I expect to ready at least 40 rural ambulances by the end of June this year after which they would be stationed in different panchayats from where rural people would be able to use that at a minimal charge," he said.

Jain, however, would not be satisfied with this. His long-term goal is to equip all 8,400-odd panchayats of Bihar with at least one such ambulance.