The police claim that the city of Nagpur saw lesser numbers of fatal road accidents in the year 2025 needs to be welcomed. When a city bursting at the seams reports lesser numbers of fatal accidents in a year, it is obviously a good news. For, it gives a good feeling to the people that they are plying on safer roads. As Dr. Ravinder Singal, the indomitable Commissioner of Police, made a proud announcement of the reduced numbers of fatal accidents on city roads, the people realised the good work the city police force did in the past one year. Nobody would grudge the cops the due credit for the good work.

 

Yet, after having roamed the city-streets at all times of day and night for one full year, the loosefooter can say safely that several factors have contributed to the safer roads. One of those factors is the civilian contribution to the cause of safer roads. Organisations such as Jana-akrosh also played a vital role in changing the situation favourably. Their volunteers stood for hours at several road intersections for days on end urging people to follow traffic rules as well as regulations of civic manners and common sense. At several intersections, the loosefooter stood in a quiet corner to watch the good work those self-appointed traffic wardens did -- urging people to behave well on the roads, to wear helmets or car-seat-belts, not to cross the ‘STOP’ lines at intersections, not to rush when the signals were changing to ‘Green’ at their own pace, not to cut lanes brazenly and jeopardise other people’s lives... ! All that requires patience -- which a common citizen generally does not have. But the Jana-akrosh volunteers went through the motions of their self-assigned mission of safety on roads with patience and persistence.

 

Most people responded well to their urgings, all right. Yet, there also were some people who did not respect those polite requests and behaved crudely Jana-akrosh volunteers. The volunteers did not get perturbed by that and continued their polite work with diligence. There were good numbers who often smiled back and thanked the Jana-akrosh volunteers for their brotherly or sisterly assistance. All that voluntary work also played a major role in bringing to people in the streets to conduct themselves well -- and thus reduced possibilities of mishaps -- small or big -- on the roads. There is a need to acknowledge the role of these good-natured people who gave their personal time and energy to a good cause. Personally, the loosefooter is extremely grateful to the Jana-akrosh volunteers and their leaders. And, he expresses his gratitude to them on behalf of the people as well -- as their representative. Of course, thanks are also due to the Police who have done a good job. But it is important for people in the official set up to remember that in a democracy, people’s active participation is as important as the official action. n