The 11th Lifeline Express was inaugurated at Jagdalpur Railway Station in Chhattisgarh recently. Tata Steel in collaboration with the Indian Railways, Impact India Foundation and Government of Chhattisgarh organized this unique initiative of Lifeline Express to provide health care and basic health facilities in the remote rural areas of the State. The inauguration of Lifeline Express in Jagdalpur coincided with the World Disabled Day.

Lifeline Express offers on the spot diagnostic, medical and surgical interventions to the disabled, free of cost. It epitomizes an international initiative, which began in 1981 in England to prevent and cure avoidable disablement. In 1991, Tata Steel got involved with Lifeline Express movement in India and took the mobile hospital to the remote corners of our country. Patients with operable Orthopaedic (Post polio deformities) disabilities, hearing disorders, cleft lip and eye related operable disabilities are given corrective surgeries and appropriate medical aid under this programme.

The hospital on wheels will halt at Jagdalpur Railway Station till 23rd December 2006 and during this period Tata Steel will provide free health services, inclusive of diagnosis, surgery, medicines and food, for patients and one attendant along with them.

In the first phase of Lifeline Express in Chhattisgarh, Orthopaedic treatment was provided to more than 425 patients; out of which 90 patients were given crutches, shoes and other medical aids free of cost and 23 children underwent minor orthopaedic surgeries. In the second phase, 1200 villagers registered for ENT treatment. 50 patients were provided with various medical aids during this phase; 21 minor and 9 major ENT operations were conducted by the medical team. In the 3rd and 4th phase of the Lifeline Express, eye treatment and hearing ailments treatment will be provided to the residents of Jagdalpur and its neighbouring areas.

The 11th Life Line Express was launched in Chhattisgarh by Mr Baliram Kacchyap, Member of Parliament, Bastar, in presence of Mr. G S Mishra, Collector, Bastar, Ms Geetesh Mall, Mayor, Jagdalpur Municipal Corporation and Mr Varun Jha, Vice President, Chhattisgarh Project, Tata Steel. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest Mr. B Kaccyhap commended the effort made by Tata Steel to provide health and medical services to villagers living in remote areas.

Tata Steel has since its inception believed that the 'community' is the purpose of an enterprise. The growth of the steel plant in terms of technology and profitability over the years has always been matched by sustainable corporate welfare measures designed to "improve the quality of life" of the communities it serves. This is the eleventh such initiative by Tata Steel. It has hosted the Lifeline Express at places like Chainpur, Jamadoba, Noamundi, Bamnipal, Gopalpur, Ghatsila, Jassidih, Bheltand, Jajpur and Sini in the past. More than 400,000 people have benefited so far from these initiatives.