Prashant Nikale
Nashik: Probably, Maharashtra is the first state to print the AIDS helpline number 1097 on the toll receipts and the experiment is likely to be followed by all the tolls posts in India. The first experiment was started at Shinde toll post on Nashik-Pune highway with the efforts by social activist and Aids counselor Vilas Bodke from Dodi Budruk.
The initiative was started in August, 2018. Now all the toll plazas in the district have the Aids helpline printed on toll receipt. Since, truck drivers are the most high risk group of Aids, Bodke wanted to create awareness among them in a different way.
Thus, he planned to print the Aids toll free number on the toll receipts. The idea behind it was that the truck drivers passing through the toll post will get idea of the toll free number and thus will be aware of it.
Currently, All the toll plazas in the district have the Aids helpline number printed on their toll tickets. The Ghoti Toll Plaza on Mumbai-Agra Highway, Shinde Palase Toll Plaza – Sinnar, Bhavadwari toll plaza at Chandwad, Pimpalgaon Basvant Toll Plaza and Shilapur Toll Plaza at Aurangabad Highway have initiated this service.
“The toll free number printed on toll receipts will certainly help the truck drivers and even other citizens to know about it. I contacted the National Highway Authority, obtained guidance and permission from MSACS department for it. Finally, NHAI permitted Sinnar Toll ways Company to make some changes in its computer system to get the toll free number printed on toll receipts. This system should be implemented at all toll posts in the country.
– Vilas Bodke, Aids Counsellor
“The response is very good to the initiative. The project has mainly focus on the truck drivers as they are very vulnerable to get affected with the disease. We are getting feedback from them. People are very reserved to talk about the disease. The helpline is to make them aware about it and to help them to tackle the disease, if they are suffering from Aids. The project has now been implemented at all the toll plazas in Nashik District.”
– Dr Yogesh Pardeshi, DAPCU, Nashik
