Agartala, October 1: Eight residents of Tripura were honoured on Wednesday for helping road accident victims and facilitating their timely transportation to hospitals as part of the state’s ‘Rahveer’ Good Samaritan initiative.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury handed over Rs 25,000 and certificates of appreciation to each of the awardees at a function organised at Conference Hall No. 1 of the State Secretariat.
The initiative aims to motivate citizens to assist injured people involved in road accidents and ensure that they receive medical attention at the earliest, officials said.
Kajal Debnath and Prasenjit Bhowmik were jointly selected for the recognition. Ashesh Das, Khurshid Mia and Ajit Das, all from Gomati district, were also among those felicitated.
Satyajit Kumar Shil and Satya Ranjan Debnath from Dhalai district, along with Latika Sinha from Unakoti district, received the awards for their assistance to accident victims.
Officials said the recipients had intervened at accident sites, helped the injured and ensured their transportation to healthcare facilities during emergency situations.
Addressing the programme, Chowdhury called upon people to respond without hesitation when they encounter accident victims and stressed that prompt assistance can be critical.
“After an accident, do not hesitate—help the injured, take them to the hospital, and assist in saving a precious life,” he said.
The minister praised the awardees for taking responsibility during emergencies and said their actions reflected compassion and concern for fellow citizens.
He said improving road safety required the participation of the public alongside government agencies, police and traffic enforcement authorities.
Chowdhury urged citizens to follow the principles of the Rahveer initiative and come forward to help people in distress.
“Let us not say ‘no’ in times of crisis—extend the hand of humanity and stand beside those in need,” he said.
Officials said the initiative was part of the Transport Department’s wider road safety programme aimed at promoting public participation in emergency response and reducing fatalities through timely assistance.
They said quick access to medical care after an accident can be important in preventing loss of life.
The programme also seeks to spread awareness about protections available to people who assist road accident victims in good faith.
Officials said recognising Good Samaritans could encourage more members of the public to provide assistance without being deterred by concerns about possible legal or procedural complications.
The ceremony highlighted the contribution of citizens to emergency response and the importance of timely intervention at road accident sites.
The Transport Department said greater community participation would complement official road safety measures and support efforts to save lives on the state’s roads.
