By Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai: Consumer Legal Protection Forum, Assam and Consumer VOICE, New Delhi and Crystal Vision, Mangaldai on Saturday  jointly organized a stakeholder consultation workshop here at Youth Club conference hall . The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the road safety aspects of MVA 2019. Addressing the workshop as the chief guest Amrit Bhuyan, Superintendent of Police, Darrang expressed concern over the death of 67 people in road accidents in the district of Darrang till the month of September of this year which was recorded as 89 in the previous year  majority of which are motor bikers . He explained how Darrang Police recently taken up measures both legally and socially to reduce these cases of road accidents including regular checking of two wheelers near colleges and schools. ” Of all the deaths, I believe deaths in road mishaps are the most stupidous. It is very much heartening as many promising young lives are victims of it.

 

Now it is the time we all work unitedly to reduce the casualties of road mishap in the district to zero in the next year to follow. ” On the other hand Kalpana Deka, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Darrang in charge of Disaster Management termed the road mishap as one kind of the man made disasters and  said that until and unless we remain ignorant about our role in the road safety simply enforcing of law never going stop these accidents. Similarly Kumar Sanjib Krishna, District Transport Officer, Darrang said that over 50% of road deaths in recent years have been in the age group of 14-35 which is prime productive age group.

 

These were caused because of high speed, breaking traffic signals, not wearing helmets / seat belts, drink driving among other causes. These can be effectively stopped by enforcing the new MVA rules. One senior official of district transport department, Padma Lochan Hazarika , MVI ,Darrang while speakes on “next steps to enforce amended laws and the best practices to enhance road safety beyond just law enforcement” in the panel discussion as a panelist.  Secretary of CLPF, advocate Ajoy Hazarika in his speech said “The most effective ways to reduce road crash deaths is through strengthening road safety laws. We appreciate and congratulate the Government for giving green signal to the most awaited Motor Vehicles Act 2019. According to the road transport and highways ministry, half a million accidents are reported in India every year, in which 150,000 people lose their lives.

 

The amendment Act will help to reduce the road fatalities and injuries with the stringent penalties / other provisions and change the road habits of citizens who are breaking the rules. We urge the Assam government to include the new rules of MVA 2019 in the Assam Motor vehicle rules.”          The program  largely attended by different stake holders like the Traffic Police officials, students of Mangaldai College and Mangaldai Nursing Training School , college teacher media, members of commercial bus owners association and private vehicle employees association and activist working on road safety and road accident victims was also witnessed sharing of relevant personal experiences by several participants including Ainul Haque. Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD, NH, Mangaldai Subdivision, Dr Ramesh Ch Goswami SDM&HO, Darrang and senior journalist Ganesh Dutta among others. The day long programme which ended with the vote of thanks offered by Manmohan Deka, Assistant Secretary of Crystal Vision was moderated by the President of the voluntary organisation.