National Safety Day – an ironical repeat of no meaning

While suddenly noticing that today is “National Safety Day” in India, not only do I laugh in my sleeves but also cry tears of pain – on the day that’s been “celebrated” in India today, the fourth of March, courtesy, Minister of Labour and Employment, which was founded this day in 1965 but it was observed for the first time seven years later, in 1972!. Because, a National Safety Council was made to be born out of it.

What was the aim to have such a day and a council? 

Well, “to generate and develop a voluntary movement on safety, health and environment” – in short, SHE, as all the see from Wikipedia to copy-paste news items doing the round today.

And this year, by the way, the day is “celebrated” as “Road Safety Day”!

By the way I am an early 1970s born, quite intimate towards my golden jubilee year, and till now, I have never, please read again, Never, felt safe on my own Indian roads, alleys, markets and other areas, unless I had someone from the family or protective friends with me.

I have forgotten the count of mishappenings occurring to me, my friends, family, relatives, my domestic help, neighbours and parents – from someone able to do indecent acts to stealing valuables, mobiles, purses to hitting with the help of police personnel. When people like me have experienced that, what do we say about people with different handicaps – on roads, in train? Much to celebrate the day.

The Ministry and the council should take notice of it, and stop celebrating the day unless it truly achieves its spirit on the ground.

Today we ironically talk about this 49th year as the Road Safety Day, shall we not remember the Unnao rape case, Asifa, Akhlaq, to Shiva Kumar and Chanadrashekhar – dragged on road, indignified and much more? And now, if only little safety was less for us Indians, religion is an added colour, mocking the day on its face.

I have less or almost no records of, how many times, in the true spirit, on the ground, was this day not only recalled but also made concrete examples of, except some privately funded organisations made initiatives, sporadically.

So, we know why is this day mean nothing to Indian vulnerable on the roads today – men, women, children, workers, eunuchs, students et al.

Only yesterday, I saw an old video from Pakistan, in which a volley of police personnel including hijabi women were being trained on skates, to run fast, jump, skid, snake through and nab the culprit by the collar, in tiny and thin alleys of the country, amid even chaotic, thick crowd. Skates? Because in time of need, police vans, motorbikes, scooters cannot run faster and reach the victim of purse snatching, molestation,  other such and petty crimes in which, taking advantage of the confusing, multiple alleys and choas, the culprits easily run away after committing the crime, leading to a fearful atmosphere in the streets.

I am not aware if such skate army is present in India. (I called up Thana Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, and a police in attendance said we don’t have and shut the phone down) so, If not, we should start it.

Mr. Minister. I swear, all the praises will fall in your kitty, no one will remember me that I shot the idea that you should start such skate army every nook and cranny of big and small cities by training men and women for safety, and even honour few who do the job well, thus Inspire and motivate them.

So, unless, the day is given enough pride to feel in India, especially in UP and Delhi, and smaller areas of localities, towns and cities, I can’t even think of celebrating it, and recall it every year. Given the sorry state of affairs, sorry, dear makers of this day, I would rather remember this day as my Late mother’s birthday and the marriage anniversary of my parents-in-law, my 79-year-old mom-in-law and 86-year-old father in law; and celebrate it too!