Sir,
The Road Safety Week generally is observed annually in the month of January. In Udhampur too variety of activities were organized with much fun and fare by the Motor Vehicles Department (J&K) with the active co-ordination and participation of Distt. Administration Educational Institutions, NGO’s, Civil Society, Police, Traffic Deptt, Civil Defence Organization Udhampur etc. The well managed and fully media covered event undoubtedly emerged successful.
However, I earnestly feel that the week long activities with the noble aim to spread Road Safety awareness among the general masses this year too remained confined to city/urban areas due to the biting cold of winter month and other constraints like heavy snowfalls/rains and traffic suspensions in the hilly areas of Udhampur. The educational institutions in the winter zones too remain closed for the annual winter vacations in these days. Precisely, the snow bound belts remain cut off from rest of the world in winters. Eventually, the masses of all shades of hilly society are deprived of the most valuable week long annual event of Road Safety awareness.
Now with the change in season the educational institutions too are functioning in winter zones. So I opine that all concerned quarters should make concerted effort and chalk out a plan to reach out to all the left over areas and hold varied activities to spread the much needed awareness on road safety and all other related aspects among the winter zone masses who generally are poor, illiterate and hapless. In fact, the meaningful and useful things generally do not reach them.
At least the literature / pamphlets relating to road safety should be provided to all the rural/winter zone educational institutions. So that in morning assemblies the Do’s and Don’ts regarding road safety may be read over to the students from time to time for obvious reasons.
Yours etc….
Swatantra Dev Kotwal
Udhampur
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