“ BUCKLE UP HYDERABAD – Save Lives” ("బకుల్ అప్ హైదరాబాద్ - సేవ్ లైవ్స్")
Creating awareness in an innovative way is always appealing and most effective. Innovation is the key to all good things. This is the theme adopted by Rotarians from Rotary Club of Miyapur to deter people from breaking traffic rules. With traffic violations on the rise in the City, Rotary Club of Miyapur ( Rotary International District 3150 ) in its mission to do good in this world, joined hands with Hyderabad Police in creating awareness on the need for following traffic rules through Novel and Innovative Traffic Awareness Program “ BUCKLE UP HYDERABAD – Save Lives” ("బకుల్ అప్ హైదరాబాద్ - సేవ్ లైవ్స్"). The awareness program emphasised on usage of Helmets and Seatbelts. In order to attract the attention of commuters the members of Rotary Club dressed few eminent artists as Yama Dharma Raja(యమధర్మరాజు) and his minister Chitragupta (చిత్రగుప్తుడు) and Supporting solidire(యమభటులు). ( Make up to these artists was done by Late NTR’s Personal Make Up man Mr Balu who worked for NTR for his movies బ్రహ్మర్షి విశ్వామిత్ర , శ్రీ కృష్ణావతారం, దాన వీర శూర కర్ణ, సర్దార్ పాపా రాయుడు ) . These character dressed volunteers requested the commuters who are not wearing the helmets and seatbelts to start using the same for safety. This colorful unique approach impacted and made realise the commuters to use Helmets and Seatbelts.
Riders who did not wear helmets were asked the reason for not wearing the head gear and asked them to follow the rules not because it is mandatory, but for safety of all. All the Members held Placards and Banners with message “ BUCKLE UP HYDERABAD – Save Lives” drew attention from thousands of commuters
President of the Club Rtn Bp Padala addressing the media said that accidents are on the rise in the city and concrete efforts are needed to bring it down. It is not just creating awareness among the public, but making them realise the seriousness of traffic violations that will ensure safety for all”, he added. The idea is to use every possible tool of learning for spreading awareness on traffic rules. Many young lives are being lost due to sheer negligence and arrogant ignorance.
Past Presidents Rtn Padigala Seshadri, Rtn Ravindra Varma Pvs ( Regional Chairman - New Generations ), President Elect Rtn Satish Gaddam, Concept and Program Director Rtn. Vishwanath Ramraj, Secretary Elect Rtn Chaitanya Nandigam, Treasurer Rtn Srinivasa Varma Patapati, Syama Gottipati, Gorthi Srinivaas and many other Rotarians, Volunteers, SI Rambabu, Miyapur and all Police Staff from Miyapur police Station joined this program. All the media actively participated in this program and gave great support.
Overall this Novel Campaign commanded the attention of citizens who were blatantly flouting traffic rules and this motivation will surely bring change continue to inspire many.
PS: In India, more than 150,000 people are killed each year in traffic accidents. That’s about 400 fatalities a day and far higher than developed auto markets like the US, which in 2016 logged about 40,000.
