In a record-breaking New Year resolution, over 1 lakh people pledged to make road safety their priority over anything else in 2022, by signing the Sadak Suraksha Sankalp Patra in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 

In a startling revelation of data, it has come to light that each year we lose around 1.5 lakh people to road accidents in the country. In Raipur alone, approximately 450 people die every year due to accidents on road. The main reason behind these tragic figures is the ignorance of people towards road safety and traffic rules. 

To sensitize people on such rules, Raipur Police launched a week-long awareness campaign named ‘Suno Raipur.’ The initiative, which was launched by SSP of Raipur, Mr. Prashant Agrawal, in December, ended on January 1 in the new year. It was then that the mass pledge-taking took place that made its way to Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

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During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, SSP Prashant Agrawal talked about the campaign and its outcome. 

CHILDREN BECAME VOLUNTEERS

One major reason for the campaign’s success is school children. They played the role of mascots for this special campaign and enthusiastically came forward to support Raipur Police by taking messages to their elders to follow safety rules. Even specially abled children of Divyang Mahavidyalaya Mana gave a very emotional video message to support the campaign.

SSP APPEALS

While launching the initiative, SSP Agrawal appealed to the citizens of Raipur to follow road safety rules while driving and not to put lives of self and others at risk. He also requested people to think about their family and friends while attempting any kind of bike stunts or speed driving. 

“Lots of people lose their lives every year in road accidents and their family and society suffers. ‘Suno Raipur’ was launched to sensitise people regarding basic road safety rules. Citizens were requested to take it as their New Year resolution for 2022.” 

Mr. Agarwal hopes for the day when there would be no requirement of a traffic policeman at crossroads to make sure people follow traffic signals.

A JOINT EFFORT

During the week-long campaign of ‘Suno Raipur’, teams of Raipur Police and 300 active volunteers sensitized people regarding traffic rules at various public places, market areas, main chowks, schools, educational institutes and commercial areas. 

Pamphlets with interesting and educational messages, placards, handouts, video screens were also used. The social media platforms of Raipur Police were also extensively used to create awareness among people. 

ASP Traffic, Mr. M.R. Mandavi and DSP Traffic, Mr. Satish Thakur played active roles in this campaign. 

SADAK SURAKSHA SANKALP 

On the last day of the campaign – 1 January – people were requested to take road safety as their New Year Resolution for the year 2022 by signing a ‘Sadak Suraksha Sankalp Patra’ provided by Raipur Police. 

An astounding 1,02,468 people took this resolution. Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records have recognised this effort of the people of Raipur as a new record of maximum number of people signing a pledge on road safety in a day.

Mr. Agarwal is optimistic that the situation will change for the better after the ‘Suno Raipur’ campaign and the New Year resolution taken by a record number of people will usher in the changes.