Naveen launches”Rakshak”,an unique training programme for Road safety in Odisha

Bhubaneswar : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the First Responder’s Training Programme –
‘Rakshak’; a road safety initiative to save precious lives.

It is first of its kind state level programme in the country where 30,000 volunteers staying or working at the eateries and different business establishments located near accident prone spots will be trained as First Responders to road accidents.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Road accidents are a serious cause of concern for all of us. This has a serious impact on families and our economy. In a road accident situation the first hour after the incident is the most critical for saving lives.”

He further said, “All of us are good Samaritans. Nothing is more pious than saving human lives.

There is also a reward of Rs.2000 for the people who help road accident victims.” This capacity building programme is being organised by the Commerce & Transport Department of Odisha government in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State branch.

The programme will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase 300 Master Trainers will be trained in Training of Trainers (TOTs) by experts from Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC).

The Master Trainers include volunteers from Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch and NGOs across the state.The TOTs will be conducted at 10 places – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Balasore, Koraput, Phulbani, Sundergarh, Keonjhar and Bhawanipatna.

After the TOT, in the second phase these 300 Master Trainers will go to accident prone areas in all the 30 districts and train and empower the local people to render help to the victims of road accidents.

These 30,000 First Responders will be equipped to administer first aid and pre-hospital trauma care to accident victims within the golden hour. The First Responders will also educate and inform people about road safety measures and the Good Samaritan law.

On this occasion, Odisha Public Transport and Integrated Commuter System (OPTICS) was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

Mr.Patnaik hoped that the programme would help the accident victims to get immediate treatment and save many lives.He said the driver, road user and the people at the accident spot have equal responsibility. Many lives could be saved and many families could be saved from bad days if they cooperate a little.

Stating that the first one hour of the accident is very important, Mr.Patnaik said “We can save many lives if we provide immediate treatment to the accident victims during this time”.

Stating that saving the life of an accident victim is the most noble work, he said provision has been made to provide an assistance of Rs 2000 to people who come forward to help the accident victims.

In addition to it, the government has constituted a Rs 147 crore corpus fund for the treatment of the accident victims.

The Chief Minister highly appreciated the NGOs trying to create awareness and working to help the accident victims.

He hoped that their efforts will succeed and fatalities due to accidents will come down.

Speaking on the occasion state Transport Minister Padmanav Behera said “In ‘Hit & Run’ cases, accident victims are eligible for compensation through Solarium Fund. As part of which the legal heir of a deceased is entitled to get Rs. 2 lakh compensation. A critically injured person is entitled to get Rs.50,000 under this scheme.”

He further said, “Fatalities can be averted if victims are provided medical care within the first hour.

It is very critical that First Responders are properly trained to handle the road accident scenario.” Mr.Behera said with the OPTICS application citizens will be able to know about bus at a location, bus between locations, bus information such as RC, permit, route and time.

Apart from this citizens can rate buses as per their journey experience. Citizens can also file complaints against a bus for specific reasons.”

Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Madhusudan Padhi said about 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents across the country every year. In Odisha annually more than 5,000 people are killed in accidents.

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