2018-04-20 Fri

It was a simple dream. All it wanted was that people should not, through neglect or ignorance, become disabled or crippled, and thus robbed of health, productivity and joy that disabled persons, especially in rural India, should have access to medical services wherever they are.

On 16th of July, 1991, this dream came true, when Impact India's Lifeline Express, the world's first hospital on a train, was launched.

It started with a simple idea: take hospital services and medical aid to the people, especially those living in far-flung areas of rural India, who remain untouched or poorly serviced by healthcare facilities.

The train has had such a positive impact that other countries have replicated the idea - China now has four such trains and South Africa has two while Bangladesh and Cambodia each have a riverboat hospital.

Lifeline has inspired other rail projects in India, too. In 2007, the government launched the Red Ribbon Express (to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS) and the Science Express to promote scientific temper among students.

India Post issued comemmorative postage stamp on Lifeline Express.

Image Source: Mintage World