By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 18 Nov: On the occasion of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR), Sanjay Orthopaedic, Spine & Maternity Centre and SHEWA Society organised a free public awareness lecture on today at Jakhan, here. A remembrance ceremony was performed by Chief Guest Dr TC Pant, DGHS, Guest of Honour Dr Pankaj Arora, HOD, Neurosurgery, SMI, Dr. Aditya Arya, Chairman, Himalayan Public School, Dr Havagiray R Chaitme, HOD, Faculty of Pharmacy, DIT University, Special Guest Dr SN Singh, Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, DDU, Dr Ashutosh Sharma, Dialectologist, Dr BKS Sanjay, Dr Sujata Sanjay, Gynaecologist, Dr Pratik Sanjay, Social worker Yogesh Aggarwal and others by lighting candles and offering the flowers in the name of road traffic victims.
It was stated on the occasion that roads are more than just connections from point A to point B. They tell stories, some of them tragic but worth learning. These stories could be lessons to others.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is held on the third Sunday of November every year. WDR is commemorated to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads as well as to empathise with the families, friends and many others who have to cope with the consequences of their deaths or injuries. It is also a day to thank the emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families, communities and countries, and on ways to halt it.
Dr BKS Sanjay said that the country was growing economically, so were the road traffic accidents. Every year, the nation not only lost 1.5 lakh people, an equal amount were disabled permanently. Many of the victims are young, and many of the crashes could have been prevented, if proper precautions were taken. The governments’ and society’s response to road death and injury and to the bereaved and injured victims is often inadequate and inappropriate.
Dr Sanjay said that as an orthopaedic surgeon for approximately 40 years, he knew of many such tragedies.
The world day of remembrance for road traffic victims has become an important tool in global efforts to reduce road casualties. A national awareness programme needed to be launched to make the general public aware about the consequences of road accidents and the importance of the road safety. Dr Sanjay said that his organisation had been conducting such awareness programmes since 2005 and has held more than hundred such lectures till date. He shares his experience, particularly with the students of schools and colleges, keeping in mind the fact that even a single mishap can destroy lives permanently.
