IOCL provides Rs 58.08 lakh for ambulances; Rs 50 lakh unit set up at Thanamir
Four Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances funded by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) were flagged off on Friday by Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav, while an apple cider vinegar processing unit at Thanamir village in Kiphire district was virtually inaugurated and handed over at an event organized by the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in Dimapur.
The four ambulances, supported by IOCL at a cost of Rs 58.08 lakh, have been allocated to Community Health Centres (CHCs) at Dhansiripar, Medziphema and Niuland, and the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Chumoukedima.
The apple cider vinegar processing unit at Thanamir was sanctioned Rs 50 lakh under the Chief Minister’s Innovative Program. Located in a remote area near the India-Myanmar border, the unit is intended to promote value addition to locally grown apples, reduce post-harvest losses and create opportunities for rural enterprise.
Governor Nand Kishore Yadav, who attended the program at the Integrated Business Hub and Innovation Centre in Forest Colony, Dimapur, said the ambulances would strengthen emergency healthcare services in the state, where mountainous terrain and remote settlements often make access to medical facilities difficult.
He also highlighted the potential of the Thanamir unit to support agricultural development by enabling farmers to derive greater value from their produce.
IDAN chairman and Advisor to the Chief Minister Abu Metha said IOCL had contributed more than Rs 3.5 crore towards corporate social responsibility initiatives in Nagaland. He added that IOCL had also invested over Rs 300 crore in upgrading its facilities in the state.
Metha said IDAN was exploring further CSR opportunities in consultation with IOCL, with a focus on identifying gaps and directing support towards areas of need.
Additional Secretary to IDAN Vineet Kumar stressed the importance of ensuring that development projects remained functional and were properly maintained. He said their success should be assessed by the tangible benefits they delivered to the people.
The program brought together officials and stakeholders to mark the handover of the ambulances and the processing unit, both aimed at strengthening essential services and supporting local development in Nagaland.
