‘Sadak Suraksha-Jeevan Raksha’- a Street Play by MSW Students of St Aloysius College
‘Sadak Suraksha-Jeevan Raksha’- a Street Play by Master of Social Work ( MSW) Students of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru to bring awareness on Road safety as part of the 30th Road Safety Week organized by Mangaluru Traffic Police Dept.
Mangaluru: Outside KSRTC Bus Stand-Bejai in their parking lot lies a young girl un-moving, who was knocked down a speeding motor-bike rider. A crowd has gathered around them, and people speak in hushed tones of the “bike accident” that has caused the girl’s fall. Soon, a group of students arrives at the scene, placards in hand. In a sing-song fashion, they tell the onlookers that the young rider was racing a yet another speeding auto-rickshaw, driving rashly, which caused the accident. In this accident, there is a fault of both the rider and the victim-in the former case he was riding rash without noticing a pedestrian, and in the latter case, she was busy walking clicking a few selfies of her just done facial at a beauty salon.
This act was part of the 30th Road Safety Week organized by the Mangaluru Traffic Police dept, which runs from 4-10 February 2019, with the theme ‘Sadak Suraksha-Jeevan Raksha’ in order to create awareness on traffic rules in City. On 7th the street play was held at Central Market vicinity, Service Bus Stand near State Bank; On 8 February, the play was held at KSRTC Bus Stand-Bejai, Thokkuttu Junction and Deralakatte Junction, and on 9 Feb the street play will be held at Valencia, Kankanady Market and City Centre Mall.
The students through the play created awareness on the ill effects of drunken driving, speaking on mobile phone while driving/riding, not wearing helmet; overcrowding in school vehicles, riding triple on two-wheeler, honking horn when not needed, smoking in vehicles etc besides sending a message to the public to help accident victims through the street play. A large crowd gathered at all the locations of the street play, and also there was interaction between the students and the public on Road safety measures- and pamphlets’stickers on road safety was distributed to the crowd. Ms Shwetha Rasquinha, Asst Prof of Social Work at St Aloysius College organised the program and had trained the students, while Circle (Traffic) Inspector Gurudath Kamath had made the necessary arrangements for the plays and transportation of the performers.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Circle Inspector Gurudath Kamath said, “As part of Road Safety Week we have organized these street plays in order to bring awareness among the motorists and pedestrians on road safety. On the part of the police we are trying our best to maintain laws and regulations on traffic safety, but in the same time, public needs to cooperate and follow the rules in order to have a accident free environment and a smooth flow of traffic. The idea was to get youth involved as they are also the target audience for the programme”.
“Also, it’s easier to orient students who are already involved in social service through their academics. There has been tremendous increase of vehicles/traffic in the City, and as a result we are seeing many accidents. We are hopeful about the impact of this drive, especially on the youth. But we cannot evaluate its immediate impact. This is a long-term project for us and we will ensure it runs more often, and not only during Road Safety Week. I thank the MSW students of St Aloysius College for helping us out in this novel programme. Together we can make a difference” added Kamath.
In conclusion, at times, a rude awakening etches experience of the moment in the mind. So felt the RTO, Traffic Police along with college students to organize street plays separately to sensitize masses to road safety rules through instilling a sense of fear for life. Through the street play which was loud and clear sent shivers down spines of those people who intentionally violate traffic rules. The student performers narrowed down on those flouting road rules, by prompting the reckless drivers into getting into accidents, saying they do not deserve to live anymore, no matter what their age is. Through their acts at various locations, they drew the attention of the public, to be more cautious and follow traffic rules, throughout the year, and not only during Road Safety Week.
While all would have gone through the advise-mode of sensitization, it is the fear factor that makes one sit up and acknowledge the need to adhere to road rules. Such a street play left behind a promising impact on motorists, infusing introspection and consciousness to desist from talking over mobile phone while holding the steering, drunken driving, overcrowding, speeding etc. Anyways, let us all appreciate through a string of specially choreographed and directed street plays and skits, the students are aiming to create awareness regarding road safety. Good job, Aloysians! Hope your efforts will bring a change in the attitude of the motorists and pedestrians while on streets.