JORHAT, Dec 12 - As part of the plan to encourage people to observe road safety rules, the District Transport Office (Jorhat) has undertaken an unusual initiative to reward two-wheeler riders wearing helmets with lottery gift coupons that will go for a draw on December 27 next and three lucky winners will be given cash prizes.
Motor Vehicle Inspector (Jorhat), Sanjib Hazarika, the man behind the initiative, told this correspondent today that an effort has been initiated to promote wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders, especially the youths for their own safety that is expected to contribute to the reduction in fatalities in road accidents.
The official, however, said that riders wearing helmets having Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, commonly known as ISI mark, only will be given the coupons. The slogan for the initiative has been penned as �Wear Helmet & Save Life.�
Hazarika said that the coupon has been printed under the banner of Helmet Fan Club as those who will be handed the coupon will be made members of the Helmet Fan Club.
Elaborating, the MVI said that the Club will be a platform of the District Transport Office to carry out awareness campaign to follow traffic rules and to undertake road safety measures to prevent road mishaps.
Hazarika said 500 coupons have been printed and from tomorrow onward the coupons will be distributed to two-wheeler riders during drives carried out by the department to take penal action against those not wearing helmets.
District Transport Officer (Jorhat) Ujjal Prakash Sharma told The Assam Tribune that the winner of the first prize from draw of the lot will be given Rs 5000, a trophy and a handbook on driving vehicles and road safety tips, written by Hazarika in Assamese language.
He said the winner of the second prize will be given Rs 3000, a trophy and the handbook and winner of the third prize will be given Rs 2000, a trophy and the handbook.
Sharma said that a local business firm � Zailo Automobile Engineering � has sponsored the cash prizes.
The DTO said that earlier his office had given ball pens to two-wheeler riders found wearing helmets with the words, �thank you for wearing helmet� inscribed on the pens.
Sharma said at present there were 1.37 lakh two-wheelers registered with the Jorhat District Transport Office, which also includes Majuli as so far no new district branch of the Transport department has been opened in the island.
Sharma said that his office this year till date has suspended driving licences of 85 persons for violations of various offences under the Central Motor Vehicle Act and Rules.