Summary:
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation is set to provide free bus passes to HIV and AIDS patients to enable them to travel free to the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres for medication. NMC transport department’s proposal to this effect will be tabled before the transport committee on July 23. The move may benefit thousands of patients taking treatment in Government Medical College, and Indira Gandhi Medical College.As per the proposal, NMC will issue free smart card pass — that will be renewable every year — for Red bus service for those who can’t afford to travel to ART centres. After getting administrative approval for the proposal, the transport committee and NMC will prepare a policy on this.The transport department has also submitted income and expenditure statements for three months (April-June) of this current fiscal. The beneficiaries can travel in NMC buses six times a month using the pass.After sending the list of registered persons to the transport department, the free pass or smart card will be submitted to respective district collector, and district AIDS prevention and control squad, Nagpur..