The Hindu : National : `Neem datun' to be sold in trains soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 27, 2004

National

National

`Neem datun' to be sold in trains soon

By Our Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Subramanium

The Minister for Railways, Lalu Prasad, and the Minister of State for Tourism, Renuka Chowdhury, during the launch of `Incredible India,' a promotion campaign for tourism on the eve of World Tourism Day, at the New Delhi railway station on Sunday.

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 26. After kullar [earthen pot] and traditional Indian drinks such as lassi and chhach, it is now the turn of neem datun [tooth stick] to be sold in trains.

An announcement to this effect was made by the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, today.

Neem datun is already being sold at many railway stations. But it would soon be available, along with other items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo, in the pantry cars of all trains. Mr. Yadav said neem datun was not only popular among the rural people, but was also preferred by the health conscious.

"Though the announcement was not pre-planned, from now onwards neem datun would be sold in pantry cars. Orders would soon be issued to implement the announcement," he said at a function at the railway station here on the eve of World Tourism Day.

Release of magazine

The function was organised by the Railway Ministry to mark the release of Incredible India, news magazine of the Union Tourism Ministry.

The magazine would be initially distributed free of cost to passengers of the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express.

As part of steps taken by the Railways to promote tourism, Mr. Yadav said that a special "Village on Wheels" train would be started soon.

The train would connect various rural areas of historic importance and pilgrimage centres.

He released booklets, posters and a compact disk on tourist destinations in India.

Genuine tourists

The Union Minister of State for Tourism, Renuka Choudhury, termed rail passengers as genuine tourists.

Appreciating the steps taken by the Railways to promote tourism, she said the number of tourists travelling by trains was larger than those travelling by other means of transport.

"So we have decided to target tourists travelling by train."

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