Nand Kishore Yadav flags off four ambulances and inaugurates an Apple Cider Vinegar unit in Kiphire.
Governor Yadav flags off four BLS ambulances under IOCL CSR, inaugurates Apple Cider Vinegar unit virtually
DIMAPUR— Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Friday flagged off four Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and virtually inaugurated an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) processing unit at Thanamir village in Kiphire district.
The BLS ambulance launch is under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), in collaboration with the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).
The initiatives were launched at the Integrated Business Hub and Innovation Centre in Dimapur, with the ambulances procured at a cost of INR 58.8 lakh and the ACV processing unit established under the Chief Minister’s Innovative Programme with a sanctioned amount of INR 50 lakh.
Delivering the keynote address as the special guest, Yadav said the two initiatives, though different in nature, shared a common purpose of improving people’s quality of life and creating opportunities for inclusive development.
He said the ambulances would strengthen access to emergency healthcare, while the ACV processing unit would promote value addition, entrepreneurship and livelihood generation.
Together, the initiatives represented two important dimensions of development—protecting lives and creating livelihoods.
Highlighting Nagaland’s geographical challenges, the Governor said the state’s mountainous terrain, dispersed settlements and long distances between villages and healthcare institutions often made timely access to medical care difficult, particularly during emergencies.
“In such circumstances, an ambulance is much more than a means of transportation. It is a critical link between a patient and a healthcare facility,” he said, adding that ambulances connect emergencies with timely medical intervention.
The four ambulances will serve Dhansiripar Community Health Centre (CHC), Medziphema CHC, Niuland CHC and Chümoukedima Primary Health Centre (PHC).
Yadav said the ACV processing unit at Thanamir was a step towards unlocking Eastern Nagaland’s agricultural, horticultural and human potential.
While the region possessed considerable resources, geographical and connectivity challenges had affected the pace at which these could be translated into economic opportunities.
He said eastern Nagaland should be viewed not only in terms of its developmental needs but also its resources, talent, enterprise and economic potential.
“Our farmers should not remain only producers of raw materials. They should have the opportunity to participate in the larger value chain,” he said.
The Governor emphasised that Nagaland’s progress required sustained partnerships among the government, public sector organisations, private companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, communities and civil society.
Advisor to the Chief Minister and IDAN chairman Abu Metha said IOCL had spent more than INR 3.5 crore on CSR activities in Nagaland over the past couple of years, with a focus on reaching grassroots communities and areas often left out of development.
Describing the ACV processing unit as a small but significant step, Metha said the next phase would require developing the supply chain, storage facilities, value addition and marketing mechanisms to ensure sustainable economic benefits.
Also read: IOCL expands CSR footprint in Dimapur
He said the state government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, was looking into these aspects to ensure that such facilities and initiatives reached grassroots communities.
Metha also highlighted the economic opportunities arising from improved connectivity through the Trans-Asian Highway, which connects mainland India with the Northeast and is intended to strengthen links with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He said local enterprises must aim to compete at national and international levels, adding that their growth could contribute to India’s economic progress.
Executive Director and State Head of IOCL’s IOAOD State Office, Nitin Bhatnagar, said Indian Oil took pride in supporting human potential and improving the lives of communities across the country.
He said IOCL had committed INR 3.82 crore towards various initiatives in Nagaland and continued to receive support from the state government and IDAN.
He added that the corporation was investing a significant portion of its Northeast funds in Nagaland.
Earlier, IDAN Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar delivered the welcome address.