Gurgaon:
At times when getting through emergency numbers over the phone has become a herculean task, Gurgaon has come up with an innovative system to provide emergency services in the National Capital Region.
Dial 6-111-111 for any kind medical of emergency, and help is not far away.
This initiative launched by the non- profit body SRIMS has benefitted more than hundred people in the last two months irrespective of their financial status.
When Nitin Das's wife was in labour and about to deliver their first born, Nitin was on the road, running with a thousand rupees in his hand, trying to find a car to get his wife to a hospital. SRIMS came to his rescue.
''At that time it was an emergency situation, and we called this number. They came within no time and took us. There also they helped a lot.'' Said Nitin.
With its state-of-the-art facilities, the service has captured people's attention in barely two months of its inception. The service is a boon mainly for those living in the rural areas and outskirts. Also, the fact that it is free has proved beneficial for those who cannot afford high end medical facilities.
Talking about the idea behind launching this service, retired Colonel Balbir Singh, COO of SRIMS Emergency Service Foundation says, "It is basically something across the spectrum. Our idea was to deploy a good system that can respond to any emergency within 15 to 20 minutes."
Adding to this, Shakti Singh founder of SRIMS Emergency Service Foundation said "it is a free service, as in an emergency it is difficult to ask people for a payment. This is not a model where you can do it on a payable basis. Hence we get corporate and other organizations to sponsor or adopt an ambulance."
Having already struck a chord with the common man, the service is soon becoming more and more popular in the region.
"we want to grow more, there are many many more people who need a service like this and I hope they start calling us and we should be able to help them," said Vikas Kohli ,VP operations , SRIMS Emergency Service Foundation.