Several educational institutions in Pollachi joined Uyir Pollachi as it launched the 'Kutty Cops' program in association with Rotary Pollachi on August 12.
Coimbatore: Uyir, a Coimbatore-based NGO which focused on making Coimbatore an accident-free society, has now forayed into Pollachi with the mission to make Pollachi roads too accident-free.
'Uyir Pollachi' and its 'Kutty Cops' program were launched in association with the Rotary Pollachi on August 12. It was launched by Dr. G S Sameeran, District Collector Coimbatore in the presence of Dr. Rajasekaran, Managing Trustee, UYIR, Rtn. Maheswar, President, Rotary Pollachi and Manickam, Trustee, UYIR. Rtn. Elangkumaran, Governor of RI Dist.3203. Several educational institutions of 'Pollachi' joined Uyir on the launch day.
"Singapore became one of the cleanest countries in the world because the mission to make it clean began with making children the messengers of cleanliness. Similarly, we believe every child in a house can spread the message of road safety to the elders at home, and soon this could help make Pollachi an accident-free town," expressed Dr. Rajasekaran, Managing Trustee, UYIR at the launch of UYIR Pollachi on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rajasekar said, "Road Accidents have become a national issue claiming nearly 1.84 lakh lives in India per year. Close to 7.20 lakh people face major road accidents every year. 3 percent of India's GDP is spent on treating road accidents. The maximum number of road accident deaths happens in India, and in our country, the highest cases happen in Tamil Nadu with 9,000-10,000 lives perishing in Tamil Nadu per year, due to road accidents. The burden that falls on families due to road accidents is heavy but all these happen due to the negligence of someone.
Out of 750 road traffic accident victims admitted to Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, 51 percent of those injured said that they had met with an accident due to not stopping at Red Traffic Lights, using cell phones while in transit, overspeeding, overtaking, rash and reckless driving. UYIR worked with the District Police to find 18 black spots where major accidents happen in Coimbatore and took measures to reduce accidents in those spots."
Dr. Rajasekar highlighted that UYIR had a 'Kutty Cops' program, an initiative where school students from Classes 3 to 8 will be educated about the importance of road safety. "Uyir will join hands with volunteering institutions and will provide an orientation for the teachers and implementation plan along with materials and worksheets for use. Children, who will be the 'Kutty Cops,' should educate their parents to wear helmets, follow traffic rules, wear seat belts when riding a car and discipline their family members. When every kid in a school becomes a small cop, the mission to make Pollachi Road accident-free can be quickly accomplished."
Hundreds of school students took the Kutty Cops' pledge at the event to ensure their family members follow traffic and road safety guidelines, and also to report about rash riding and road rules violations by anyone to their superiors.
Speaking at the event, Dr. G S Sameeran, the Coimbatore District Collector said, "There are 49 places in Coimbatore that are blind spots for road accidents. These identified places were investigated regarding the cause of accidents, whether it is due to road construction, nearby bushes, or other engineering mistakes; and they were modified to reduce the accidents. A long-term intervention to reduce road accidents could be made only by making youth, especially school students learn about road safety rules and guidelines. Thus, UYIR is taking steps to ensure road safety becomes a part of the curriculum in schools."
'Uyir Pollachi' and its 'Kutty Cops' program were launched in association with the Rotary Pollachi on August 12. It was launched by Dr. G S Sameeran, District Collector Coimbatore in the presence of Dr. Rajasekaran, Managing Trustee, UYIR, Rtn. Maheswar, President, Rotary Pollachi and Manickam, Trustee, UYIR. Rtn. Elangkumaran, Governor of RI Dist.3203. Several educational institutions of 'Pollachi' joined Uyir on the launch day.
"Singapore became one of the cleanest countries in the world because the mission to make it clean began with making children the messengers of cleanliness. Similarly, we believe every child in a house can spread the message of road safety to the elders at home, and soon this could help make Pollachi an accident-free town," expressed Dr. Rajasekaran, Managing Trustee, UYIR at the launch of UYIR Pollachi on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rajasekar said, "Road Accidents have become a national issue claiming nearly 1.84 lakh lives in India per year. Close to 7.20 lakh people face major road accidents every year. 3 percent of India's GDP is spent on treating road accidents. The maximum number of road accident deaths happens in India, and in our country, the highest cases happen in Tamil Nadu with 9,000-10,000 lives perishing in Tamil Nadu per year, due to road accidents. The burden that falls on families due to road accidents is heavy but all these happen due to the negligence of someone.
Out of 750 road traffic accident victims admitted to Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, 51 percent of those injured said that they had met with an accident due to not stopping at Red Traffic Lights, using cell phones while in transit, overspeeding, overtaking, rash and reckless driving. UYIR worked with the District Police to find 18 black spots where major accidents happen in Coimbatore and took measures to reduce accidents in those spots."
Dr. Rajasekar highlighted that UYIR had a 'Kutty Cops' program, an initiative where school students from Classes 3 to 8 will be educated about the importance of road safety. "Uyir will join hands with volunteering institutions and will provide an orientation for the teachers and implementation plan along with materials and worksheets for use. Children, who will be the 'Kutty Cops,' should educate their parents to wear helmets, follow traffic rules, wear seat belts when riding a car and discipline their family members. When every kid in a school becomes a small cop, the mission to make Pollachi Road accident-free can be quickly accomplished."
Hundreds of school students took the Kutty Cops' pledge at the event to ensure their family members follow traffic and road safety guidelines, and also to report about rash riding and road rules violations by anyone to their superiors.
Speaking at the event, Dr. G S Sameeran, the Coimbatore District Collector said, "There are 49 places in Coimbatore that are blind spots for road accidents. These identified places were investigated regarding the cause of accidents, whether it is due to road construction, nearby bushes, or other engineering mistakes; and they were modified to reduce the accidents. A long-term intervention to reduce road accidents could be made only by making youth, especially school students learn about road safety rules and guidelines. Thus, UYIR is taking steps to ensure road safety becomes a part of the curriculum in schools."