Retired Army personnel, district officials promote Safe Drive Save Life in Bankura

Tapsil Jati Adibasi Praktan Sainik Krishi Bikash Shilpa Kendra (TJAPSKBSK), along with the state government, distributed helmets and launched a drive

to create awareness about the 'Safe Drive Save Life' campaign in Bankura's Raipur on Monday.

Over 500 helmets were distributed among two wheeler drivers under the programme.

Senior state government officials of the district instructed two wheeler drivers about traffic rules and gave them suggestions to improve their driving skills. The officials asked motorcyclists to wear helmet whenever they are driving.

The officials said many motorcyclists in rural areas were not wearing helmets. To develop the habit of wearing helmets, they were given away free of cost and more people will be given free helmets under the scheme. The organisation aims to reach out to all the bikers in the state in the next few months.

All 6,500 members of TJAPSKBSK – an organisation formed by retired Army personnel – have been working continuously in 204 blocks of 18 districts in the state for the last 35 years to implement a number of projects of the state and Central government.

Soumen Koley, general secretary of the organisation said: "Our organisation believes that social responsibility should not be limited to just words. Governments have immense resources and tremendous potential to impact the surroundings through the policies and conducting business. Organisations like ours must come forward to promote the government's policies and support the needy in every possible way."

"Wearing helmets should become a habit, even when they are covering the shortest distance on their motor cycle, for their safety," a participant said. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the police to carry out the Safe Drive Save Life campaign in the districts every Saturday.