Karnataka drivers pool savings to buy Rs 12 lakh ambulance
The Navodaya Auto-rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association will provide free emergency transport for two villages in Bantwal taluk.
Auto-rickshaw drivers in Karnataka have purchased a fully equipped ambulance worth approximately Rs 12 lakh to provide emergency transport for two villages. According to the Times of India, the initiative was led by the Navodaya Auto-rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association of Badakabail in Kariyangala village, near Polali.
The drivers and owners raised the funds through small daily savings, which were combined with financial assistance from villagers and other donors. The group spent about Rs 10 lakh to purchase the vehicle and an additional Rs 2 lakh to install necessary medical equipment in Mysuru.
The ambulance will serve residents of Kariyangala and Ammunje villages in Bantwal taluk. The service will be provided free of cost to help families access urgent medical attention without depending on ordinary passenger vehicles.
The association has arranged for the ambulance to be parked near the Badakabail auto-rickshaw stand, where around 26 auto-rickshaws operate. The auto-rickshaw drivers themselves will serve as the ambulance drivers.
The association previously collected Rs 100 every month from each driver to support underprivileged people, raising more than Rs 4 lakh for various welfare activities over time.