Agartala, October 1: Eight Tripura residents were felicitated on Wednesday for helping road accident victims and ensuring that they were taken to hospitals for timely treatment under the state government’s ‘Rahveer’ Good Samaritan initiative.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury presented each recipient with Rs 25,000 and a certificate of appreciation during a ceremony at Conference Hall No. 1 of the State Secretariat.
The initiative is intended to encourage people to assist road accident victims and facilitate prompt medical care during emergencies, officials said.
Kajal Debnath and Prasenjit Bhowmik were jointly honoured for their intervention, while Ashesh Das, Khurshid Mia and Ajit Das from Gomati district were among the other awardees.
Satyajit Kumar Shil and Satya Ranjan Debnath of Dhalai district and Latika Sinha of Unakoti district were also recognised for assisting injured persons following road accidents.
Officials said the awardees had stepped forward at accident scenes, helped the injured and facilitated their transportation to medical facilities.
Addressing the function, Chowdhury appealed to citizens to act promptly when they encounter road accident victims and not hesitate to provide 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 said the awardees had demonstrated compassion and social responsibility by helping people during critical situations.
He said government measures alone could not address road safety concerns and called for greater involvement of citizens, alongside enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
Chowdhury urged people to embrace the Rahveer initiative and assist those in need during road 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 was part of the Transport Department’s broader road safety efforts and aimed at encouraging community participation in emergency response.
The initiative places emphasis on timely assistance to accident victims and facilitating access to medical treatment, they said.
Officials also sought to create awareness about safeguards available to Good Samaritans who voluntarily assist accident victims.
They said public recognition of those who come forward during emergencies could encourage others to provide assistance without fear of unnecessary legal or procedural difficulties.
The function highlighted the role citizens can play in the immediate response to road accidents, particularly before professional emergency services reach the spot.
The Transport Department said increased community participation, along with enforcement and awareness measures, would help strengthen road safety efforts and contribute to saving lives on Tripura’s roads.
