Haryana elections: Bike ambulances come to the aid of elderly, disabled; 80 use service in Morni, Pinjore

(MORNI) PANCHKULA: A number of elderly and physically challenged people residing in the interiors of Morni hills used the service of bike ambulances on Monday to exercise their voting right.


Young riders picked and dropped elderly and handicapped, traversing between 2km and 6km in the hilly areas.

Nearly, 80 such people used the services in Morni and Pinjore block.

Sunil Kumar Sharma (38), who is physically challenged, called it a good initiative by Panchkula administration. Sharma said, “When a physically challenged person like me can come and vote, why others can’t? Every resident should exercise his or her voting right”

Echoing similar views, Paankho Devi (80) of Morni area, said the local riders engaged by administration for these bike ambulances were helpful.

“They provided every assistance to elderly people like me. It was only because of these people that I could turn up to vote,” she said.

Bhupinder Rana, who is running one such “Arogyam” — a motorbike ambulance — said as their numbers are with block level officers and village sarpanchs, they get call from them to help these elderly and physically challenged person on election day.

However, he clarified that they did not influence anyone to vote in favour of any party or candidate.

“It is their choice and these elderly and physically challenged person cast their vote according to their choice,” said Rana. The “Arogyam” project was launched in Panchkula on May 13, 2017, by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The first-of-its-kind emergency health service project in north India include motorbike medical services for hilly areas such as Morni.