Contesting from Kishanganj in north Delhi on a Swaraj India party ticket, the 35-year-old has been rushing poor and needy to hospitals for last 14 years now
Twinkle Kalia, 35, who claims to be the first woman ambulance driver in Delhi, is all set to contest the municipal corporation elections from Kishanganj in north Delhi on a Swaraj India party ticket. Kalia has been rushing the poor and the needy to hospitals during emergencies for the last 14 years now.
For Twinkle, it all started with an ambulance that her parents gave her at the time of her wedding. Her husband Himanshu Kalia had asked for an ambulance as dowry to serve the poor and needy free of cost.
"When my parents inquired about dowry, my husband refused to take anything. But when they insisted, he asked for an ambulance, as till then he was renting an ambulance to help the poor," Twinkle said.
She started driving in the absence of drivers and soon it became a daily affair for her. Twinkle and Himanshu now own eight ambulances and two hearse vans. A health insurance advisor by profession, she has been driving ambulances for the last 14-15 years.
"We buy ambulances every year on installments. As soon as we pay the amount, we order another vehicle. My father-in-law had met with an accident and my husband had to hop from one hospital to another, facing many problems, as he did not have a vehicle. Since then, he has been hiring ambulances to take patients to hospitals," she said.
Maintaining that Kalia would add value not to just their campaign but to politics, at large, a member of the Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India said: "Twinkle's nomination is yet another reflection of Swaraj India's intent and commitment to enhance political participation of women. She drives an ambulance and has been working for society, which shows her dedication and empathy for the needy."
When asked why she was decided to join politics, Twinkle said her initial dream was to set up an old-age home, but politics will do for now as it is just another way to serve the public. She further said she wanted to focus on improving the condition of her ward, where sewer lines, drinking water, and cleanliness were major issues.
"I suffered from jaundice in 2008 because of the dirty water in my ward. The situation remains the same till now. The local councillor promised to cover the drain that is the main source of many deadly diseases, cleaning the garbage, and providing drinking water. But nothing has been done in the last so many years. So, I decided to contest the elections this year," she said.
Having been a part of the Anna Aandolan and various candle-light marches earlier, Twinkle said she was irked to see the people suffer. She accused both the local councillor and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA of passing the buck to each other when it came to addressing the issues of the area.
"We voted for AAP because we thought it would bring a change, but things did not change. When we take our plight to the councillor, he directs us to the MLA. The MLA then sends us back to the councillor. Things are getting worse," she alleged, adding that Swaraj India was a transparent and clean party with a vision.
Meanwhile, the party has declared candidates for 272 seats, giving special emphasis to youths and women in politics.
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