In India, the rich tapestry of cultural stories are told to children from a very young age. This include stories of Gods, villians, heroes and demons. Playing on cultural values, Transport and Police Departments in India have supported a street play that brings back the messengers of death on the road to warn people of their actions on the road in an indirect yet personal way.
Adapted from The Hindu Online
At times, a rude awakening etches experience of the moment in the mind. So felt the Transport and Police departments in India that organised street plays separately to sensitise masses to road safety rules through instilling a sense of fear for life.
Invoking mythology, the Transport Department had two students of Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic College don the roles of Yama, the lord of death, and his key aide Chitragupta. They traversed through the city on an open cargo vehicle making loud and clear conversations that sought to send shivers down spines.
Dressed as the mythical characters, they agreed on the point that their visit to earth had been long overdue and that they must make the most of their stay to take back as many lives as possible before returning to their abode. And they decide to narrow 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.
Transport Department enlivens mythical characters to drive home the dangers of reckless driving as part of Road Safety Week celebrations in Erode on Monday.— PHOTO: M.GOVARTHAN
The cultural programmes are organised on the theme ‘Safety is not just a slogan; it is a way of life’.
District Collector K. Maharabushanam inaugurated the cultural programmes on the Collectorate campus, in the presence of Velusamy, Deputy Transport Commissioner, and RTOs – Senthilvelan (Sankagiri), Ravikumar (Salem south), Subramaniam (Salem West), V. Jayagowri (Salem East) and Rajendran (Attur).
Cultural programmes organised by Transport Department in connection with Road Safety Week at the Collectorate in Salem on Monday.PHOTO: P. GOUTHAM
Later, the troupe performed at Collectorate round about, five roads junction and new bus stand.The Indian Red Cross Society launched a mobile campaign van to create awareness on safe travel.Mr. Maharabushanam, who is also the president of district Red Cross, flagged off the rally, in the presence of J. Munna, chairman, L. Anil, vice-president, J. Jakir Hussain, its secretary, Prabakaran, Junior Red Cross convener. The members of the Red Cross and the Junior Red Cross visited various parts of the city and made announcements on the road rules and the need to follow them strictly.
Embedding road safety with a cultural focus can be a powerful way to personalize messages to a local context that citizens can relate to.