'YSR Thalli Bidda Express': Jagan flags off 500 buses to ferry pregnant ladies

Amaravati: About 500 Dr. YSR Thalli Bidda Express vehicles were flagged off by Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Benz Circle in Vijayawada on Friday. The air-conditioned vehicles would provide free transport to pregnant women, mothers, and infants. Pregnant women will be taken to government hospitals for delivery. They will also be dropped home after discharge. The women will be provided WHO-certified medicines free of cost.

Nearly 4 lakh people can avail the facility every year. With a toll-free no 102, all the vehicles are connected to a GPS network to ensure a safe journey for the pregnant woman. The patient can track the vehicle status after booking. As a part of postnatal services, the AP government will be providing Rs 5,000 to mothers under YSR Arogya Aasara as a recuperative allowance.

After being launched, the vehicles parked at Siddhartha Medical College will be later sent to all the districts. Each district is allocated with 30 vehicles. One Village Revenue Officer (VRO) and one Tahsildar will be assigned for supervision of every five vehicles.

Further, the state government has launched the Dr. YSR Thalli Bidda Express app for coordination between postnatal women, nurses, and drivers.