Agartala, Sept 30: Extending timely assistance to road accident victims and ensuring their swift transportation to hospitals can often make the difference between life and death, Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said while honouring eight individuals recognised as ‘Rahveer’ or Good Samaritans for their humanitarian intervention during road accidents.
The awards were presented at a programme organised by the Transport Department at Conference Hall No. 1 of the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday. Each awardee was presented with a cash reward of Rs 25,000 along with a certificate in recognition of their role in helping accident victims reach hospitals promptly and receive medical attention.
The awardees included Kajal Debnath and Prasenjit Bhowmik, jointly recognised from Gomati district, along with Ashesh Das, Khursid Mia and Ajit Das. From Dhalai district, Satyajit Kumar Shil and Satyaranjan Debnath were honoured, while Latika Sinha from Unakoti district was also felicitated.
Addressing the gathering, Chowdhury said standing by people in times of distress is one of the greatest expressions of humanity. He said helping an injured person reach a hospital without delay is not merely a civic responsibility but also an important act of compassion that can help save a life.
The Minister said the ‘Rahveer’ initiative seeks to encourage people to come forward after road accidents, assist the injured and ensure that they are taken to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible.
He appreciated the awardees for overcoming fear and hesitation and stepping forward to help accident victims, describing their courage and sense of responsibility as an inspiration for society.
“The message of the ‘Rahveer’ initiative is clear—come forward to help an injured person after an accident, take them to hospital quickly and help save a precious life,” Chowdhury said.
He urged people to respond to road accidents with humanity rather than indifference and encouraged citizens to become ‘Rahveers’ by extending a helping hand to those in need.
Today, the Transport Minister also chaired the 18th meeting of the “State Road Safety Council” at the Secretariat. The meeting was attended virtually by the Secretaries of the Health and Public Works Departments, Finance Department, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary of the Transport Department, Director of Higher Education, Superintendent of Traffic Police, and the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of all eight districts of the state. Senior officials from the concerned departments were also present.
Alongside administrative initiatives to prevent road accidents and ensure the safety of pedestrians and passengers, public awareness and the responsible participation of every citizen are equally important in building a safer and more disciplined road transport system in the state.
The meeting held detailed discussions on various important issues related to road safety. Chowdhury emphasised the need for more coordinated and effective measures among all concerned departments to prevent road accidents.