Siliguri, Nov. 20: True to Buladi’s campaign, the health department in Jalpaiguri is busy playing ludo to idle away time.

At least so it seems. The AIDS helpline (1097) has never functioned in the district since the West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society introduced Buladi — the mascot for AIDS prevention and control — and her toll-free helpline in 2004.

“As it is a matter of concern, we have given our own landline number on the hoardings that we have put up in and around Jalpaiguri,” said Rishin Chakrobarty of Hriday, an NGO working for AIDS control.

“Everyday, we receive around seven-eight calls from people enquiring about AIDS. Many of them have complained that they do not get any response when they dial 1097,” Chakrobarty added.

District health officials, however, have put the landline number of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre on pamphlets, posters and banners that were distributed or displayed during campaigns.

Jalpaiguri, which had till August registered about 45 AIDS patients, besides over 150 HIV positive people, has been identified as a vulnerable zone by the state AIDS society owing to the presence of migratory population.

Jalpaiguri chief medical officer of health Bhusan Chakrobarty was unaware that the toll-free telephone service was functioning. “Is that so? I will make enquiries. We will take up the issue at appropriate levels and will also talk to the BSNL authorities,” he said.

BSNL officials confirmed that there is no telephone connection in the district that bears Buladi’s number. “We have never received any requisition for a toll free telephone connection in our district,” S.C. Bauri, the divisional engineer (internal) of BSNL, Jalpaiguri, said today.