Agartala, October 1: Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Wednesday felicitated eight citizens for helping road accident victims and ensuring that they received timely medical attention, under the state’s ‘Rahveer’ or Good Samaritan initiative.
The award ceremony was held at Conference Hall No. 1 of the State Secretariat, where the minister presented the awardees with a cash reward of Rs 25,000 each and certificates of recognition for their humanitarian efforts.
The initiative seeks to encourage members of the public to come forward and assist people injured in road accidents instead of remaining passive witnesses, officials said.
Among those honoured were Kajal Debnath and Prasenjit Bhowmik jointly, Ashesh Das, Khurshid Mia and Ajit Das from Gomati district. Satyajit Kumar Shil and Satya Ranjan Debnath from Dhalai district and Latika Sinha from Unakoti district were also felicitated.
The awardees had assisted accident victims during emergencies and helped transport them to hospitals for treatment, officials said.
Addressing the gathering, Chowdhury urged people not to hesitate when they encounter road accident victims and to extend immediate assistance.
“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 appreciated the awardees for stepping forward during critical situations and said their actions demonstrated humanitarian concern and a sense of social responsibility.
He also emphasised the role of citizens in improving road safety, saying efforts to reduce accident-related deaths cannot depend solely on traffic enforcement and government agencies.
Chowdhury urged people to adopt the spirit of the Rahveer initiative and assist those in distress during emergencies.
“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 Good Samaritan programme forms part of the Transport Department’s wider road safety efforts aimed at encouraging community participation in responding to accidents and improving the chances of survival of injured persons through timely medical intervention.
They said immediate transportation and access to medical care can be critical for accident victims, particularly during the initial period following a mishap.
The programme also seeks to create greater public awareness about protections available to Good Samaritans who assist road accident victims.
The ceremony highlighted the importance of encouraging citizens to respond to emergencies without fear of unnecessary legal or procedural complications.
The Transport Department said such recognition programmes could help strengthen public participation in road safety initiatives and promote a culture of timely assistance to accident victims.
