Rail Concession to AIDS patients - From April 1

As a noble gesture towards AIDS patients, Railways will provide 50 per cent concession to them in second class passenger fares to nominated ART centres for treatment. "Railways has decided to grant 50 per cent concession in train fares to AIDS patients for treatment at nominated Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres," a senior railway official said.

The concession will be applicable only in second class. Station masters are authorised to grant concession to the patients at the stations, the official said, adding they have to produce the certificate in prescribed form issued by officer-in-charge of the concerned ART centre where the patient is to be treated or has been treated. The concession can be availed for return journey after the treatment at nominated ART centres.

However, the concession will not be applicable in Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Sadharan and Garib Rath trains. The official also said the railways plans to launch 'Mother-Child Health Express' in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. "As per the plan, the train with seven coaches would run on a pilot basis for providing medical facilities to mother and child. The train would have facilities like delivery operation room and child health centre," said the official. Railways had on December one last launched the Red Ribbon express in collaboration with National Aids Control Organisation.