Sabuj Sathi cycles used for 'Safe Drive, Save Life' promotion

Kolkata: In a unique move, the bicycles that the Mamata Banerjee-government had distributed among schools-goers under Sabuj Sathi project were used as a tool to campaign for "Safe Drive, Save Life".

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the state-wide campaign "Safe Drive, Save Life" to check road accidents by creating awareness among commoners.

In a bid to easily convey the message to the people, the police and the state Transport department have so far opted different ways to create awareness.

An inter-school bicycle racing competition was organised at Haldia in East Midnapore. There were two reasons behind organising the competition. Firstly, it helped in the promotion of sports among local youth and secondly, riders have also created awareness among people about safety measures that need to be followed while riding motorbike or driving a vehicle.

Students from different schools at Haldia in East Midnapore participated in the inter-school bicycle racing competition. All the students were found to be riding the bicycles that they got from the state government under the project Sabuj Sathi. The state government will complete distribution of 60 lakh bicycles among the students

studying in Classes IX, X, XI and XII of state-run, aided and sponsored schools within November.

They were wearing sashes with "Safe Drive Save life" printed on them. At the same time, banners and cut outs to create awareness among people were put up on both sides of the entire stretch of the road where the competition was being held.

According to a senior police officer, children can create awareness and convince people to follow traffic norms. It will be beneficial as the participants will go back to their houses and discuss the purpose of organising such awareness campaigns with their parents who will in turn become aware of the ill effects of violating traffic norms.