ആരോഗ്യസന്ദേശവുമായി ഡോക്ടറുടെ സൈക്കിള്‍ യാത്രകള്‍

മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളേജിലെ അസോസിയേറ്റ് പ്രൊഫസര്‍ ഡോ. നിലീന കോശിക്ക് രണ്ട് സൈക്കിളുണ്ട്. ഒന്ന് മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളേജിലും മറ്റൊന്ന് കുന്നംകുളത്തെ വീട്ടിലും. കാമ്പസിനുള്ളിലെ കറക്കത്തിനും നാട്ടിലെ ചെറു യാത്രകള്‍ക്കും ഡോക്ടറുടെ വാഹനം സൈക്കിളാണ്. പെട്രോള്‍ വില കത്തിക്കയറുമ്പോഴെങ്കിലും സൈക്കിളിനെ ഓര്‍ത്തുകൂടെ എന്നാണ് ഡോക്ടര്‍ ചോദിക്കുന്നത്.

ഓട്ടോമൊബൈല്‍ വ്യവസായരംഗത്ത് പേരെടുത്ത പോപ്പുലര്‍ പൈലേട്ടന്റെ മകളുടെ മകളായ നിലീനയ്ക്ക് കമ്പം സൈക്കിളിനോടായിരുന്നു. ചെറുപ്പത്തില്‍ ചവിട്ടാന്‍ പഠിച്ചെങ്കിലും പിന്നീട് പഠനത്തിരക്കില്‍ സൈക്കിള്‍ കൈവിട്ടുപോയി. വെല്ലൂര്‍ മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളേജില്‍ എം.ഡി. പഠിക്കാന്‍ ചേര്‍ന്നപ്പോഴാണ് വീണ്ടും സൈക്കിള്‍ സവാരി തുടങ്ങിയത്. വിശാലമായ കാമ്പസില്‍ അധ്യാപകരും വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥികളുമെല്ലാം സൈക്കിളിലാണ് സഞ്ചരിച്ചിരുന്നത്. പിന്നീട് തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളേജില്‍ കമ്മ്യൂണിറ്റി മെഡിസിനില്‍ പ്രൊഫസറായി. 2003ലെ പഠനയാത്രയ്ക്കിടെ ഒരു ഹോട്ടലില്‍വെച്ച് കുട്ടികള്‍ ആവേശപൂര്‍വ്വം സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടി രസിക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടപ്പോഴാണ് വീണ്ടും സൈക്കിള്‍ സവാരിക്ക് മോഹം ഉദിച്ചത്.

കുന്നംകുളത്ത് ക്ലിനിക്ക് നടത്തുന്ന ഭര്‍ത്താവ് ഡോ. കോശി ജോര്‍ജ് ഒന്നിനുപകരം രണ്ട് സൈക്കിള്‍ വാങ്ങിക്കൊടുത്തു. കുന്നംകുളത്തുനിന്ന് മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളേജുവരെ കാറിലെത്തും. കാമ്പസിനകത്തും സമീപ പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലും തന്റെ ലേഡിബേഡ് സൈക്കിളിലാണ് സഞ്ചാരം. ആദ്യകാലത്ത് പലര്‍ക്കും പ്രൊഫസര്‍ പിള്ളാരെപ്പോലെ സൈക്കിളില്‍ ചുറ്റിനടക്കുന്നതത്ര പിടിച്ചില്ല. മറ്റു ചിലര്‍ എതിര്‍പ്പുമായി നേരിട്ടു വന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ എല്ലാറ്റിനെയും മറിടന്ന് ഡോക്ടറിന്റെ സൈക്കിള്‍ മുന്നോട്ടുപോയി.

ഇപ്പോള്‍ നിരവധി വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥിനികള്‍ സൈക്കിളില്‍ എത്തുന്നുണ്ട്. തട്ടമിട്ട് സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടുന്നവര്‍വരെ കാമ്പസിലുണ്ട്. ചില പ്രൊഫസര്‍മാരും പിന്നീട് സൈക്കിള്‍ സവാരി തുടങ്ങി. പ്രായഭേദമെന്യേ എല്ലാവരും സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടാന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയാല്‍ പുതിയൊരു ആരോഗ്യസംസ്‌കാരം രൂപപ്പെടുമെന്ന് ഡോക്ടര്‍ പറയുന്നു. ചെറുപ്പക്കാര്‍ക്കുവരെ ഷുഗറും പ്രഷറുമാണ്. അല്പദൂരംപോലും നടക്കാനോ സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടാനോ മടിയാണ്. അതേസമയം മുറിക്കുള്ളില്‍ വ്യായാമം ചെയ്യാന്‍ സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടും. അടച്ചിട്ട മുറിയില്‍ നീങ്ങാത്ത സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടുന്നതിനേക്കാള്‍ എത്രയോ നല്ലതാണ് പുറത്ത് സൈക്കിളില്‍ യാത്ര ചെയ്യുന്നതെന്ന് നിലീന ചോദിക്കുന്നു.

തമിഴ്‌നാട്ടിലെ കാമ്പസുകളിലെല്ലാം സൈക്കിള്‍ സവാരി പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. പലയിടത്തും വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥികള്‍ക്ക് ബൈക്കും കാറും ഉപയോഗിക്കാന്‍ അനുവാദമില്ല. മകള്‍ ഷാരനെ ട്രിച്ചി എന്‍.ഐ.ടി.യില്‍ ചേര്‍ത്തപ്പോള്‍ ഹോസ്റ്റലില്‍ അവശ്യസാധനങ്ങള്‍ക്കൊപ്പം സൈക്കിളും വാങ്ങിനല്‍കിയത് ഡോക്ടര്‍ ഓര്‍മിച്ചു.

പ്രധാന നിരത്തുകളില്‍ സൈക്കിള്‍ പാതകള്‍ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചാല്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ പേര്‍ സൈക്കിള്‍ ചവിട്ടുമെന്നാണ് ഡോക്ടര്‍ നിലീനയുടെ വിശ്വാസം. സ്‌കൂളുകളിലും കോളേജുകളിലും സൈക്കിളുകള്‍ വ്യാപകമാക്കാന്‍ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍തന്നെ മുന്നിട്ടിറങ്ങണം. ഇപ്പോള്‍ സൈക്കിള്‍ വര്‍ക്‌ഷോപ്പുകള്‍ പോലും ഇല്ലാതാകുന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ്. നിരത്തിലെ വാഹനപെരുപ്പം കാരണം സൈക്കിളോടിക്കുന്നവര്‍ കഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്ന സ്ഥിതിയുമുണ്ട്. റോഡുകളുടെ സ്ഥിതിയും നന്നാകണം.

വിവാഹം കഴിയുന്നതോടെ പലകാര്യങ്ങളിലും സ്ത്രീകള്‍ പിന്നോട്ടുപോകുന്ന കാഴ്ചയാണ്. ഇത് അവരുടെ ശാരീരികമാനസിക ആരോഗ്യത്തെ തന്നെ തകര്‍ക്കുമെന്നു പറയുന്ന ഡോ. നിലീന ഇപ്പോള്‍ നൃത്തവും അഭ്യസിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. നാല്പത്തിയാറാം വയസ്സില്‍ നൃത്തം പഠിക്കുന്നതിനു പിന്നില്‍ ഭര്‍ത്താവ് ഡോ. കോശി ജോര്‍ജിന്റെ പിന്തുണയാണ്.

A BIKE MOVEMENT FOR A GREEN EARTH

Go Green

ICONIC INSTITUTIONS in Bengaluru, including the Indian Institute of Science and Bangalore University, have joined a community-driven bicycle sharing initiative to bring cycles back to the city. The Namma Cycle movement initiated by Ride-A-Cycle Foundation targets educational institutes and recreational sites.

Some eight bicycle stations have been set up within the 160 hectare-campus of the Indian Institute of Science. About 75 per cent students in the Bangalore University campus walk. Survey by the foundation shows that 85 per cent of the 75 per cent are willing to cycle if bicycles are made available. Under the initiative, a bicycle can be taken out for a maximum of 10 to 12 hours.

Students can pay a nominal pre-paid charge and use a cycle for a maximum of 12 hours

Students can register with an online system, get an ID card and pay a nominal pre-paid charge to use the service. A node manager will rent out the bicycle and record the rental transactions. After use, the bike can be dropped off at any station. All cycles are insured. The first three hours are free for subscribers; for casual users, 30 minutes are free of cost. Soon students will have the aid of a map, which will display stations within the campus. Namma Cycle is mobilising the corporate world to fund cycles and cycle stands. Bharti Cement Ltd and BSNL have come forward in support. Murali H R of Ride-A-Cycle Foundation has called for stronger government participation to scale up the movement.

Rickshaw services to go hi-tech

 The scheme aims at providing a safer and efficient last mile connectivity to passengers. Moreover, it also benefits the auto drivers with provision of facilities like uniform, insurance and accident policies, all free of cost.
It may be noted that though the registration process may have begun for the auto drivers, the service would be opened to the public over the next month.
So, consider this. Once the plan rolls out, an auto rickshaw arriving at your doorstep would just be a phone call or an SMS away. The journey would be made more comfortable with facilities like newspapers and water bottles on the way. What's more, one would pay just by the meter and avoid all chances of over-charging.
Under this scientific management of auto rickshaws', the movement of each auto will be monitored by a control room and there will be very little scope of overcharging by drivers. The driver will also be given a cell phone. A passenger's call to the control room, will be directed to the auto closest to that address. This practice will reduce unnecessary plying of autos on roads, thus saving fuel and reducing traffic congestion.
"Effective implementation of this scheme will bring down the pressure on private transport in the city and make available efficient para-transit public transport," said Ramchandran.
Niteen Kareer, divisional commissioner and president of RTA, said, "The scheme is being implemented in association with Delhi-based private firm Indevelop. Pune is the first city where it will be implemented. In the process, all illegal permits and flaws will be removed, as every auto will have separate a registration under the GPS and GIS systems."
"All auto drivers enrolling for the scheme will get a uniform, insurance policy for the entire family and also an accident policy. There will also be regular health check-ups for the drivers. However, the scheme is being run on a voluntary basis," he said.
"Over 2,000 auto drivers have already registered for the scheme, in the initial stage. A dedicated control room for the process will be opened soon," said member RTA Baba Shinde.
Commissioner of police Satyapal Singh said that more than 30 per cent of the auto rickshaws in the city are illegal. Moreover, only 30 per cent of the drivers charge fares according to the metre. This scheme will help bring down such malpractices, as well as related criminal activities.

Hi-tech plan: biometric IDs for rickshaws

The friendly neighbourhood green transport on three wheels is set to get a boost, if the Delhi government’s plans are implemented.
In a reprieve of sorts for rickshawpullers, who face restriction of movement in various localities of the city, the government is thinking of regularising them by issuing biometric badges after training them in traffic rules. Meera Bhatia, standing counsel for the government, put the proposal containing minutes of a meeting between the Lieutenant-Governor and the Commissioners of Delhi Police and the MCD before the High Court recently.
“Every rickshawpuller is to be issued a biometric badge. The traffic police will be provided with hand-held biometric badge readers to check the authenticity of the rickshaw puller,” said the proposal, placed before a Special Bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justices S Muralidhar and Ravinder Bhatt.
The traffic police can regularly check the number and authorisation of rickshawpullers if the biometric badges are introduced.

Steps for bringing down Road Accidents in India (4)

• Strict enforcement of health of vehicles.
• Periodic eye testing of old aged driving license holders.
• Immediate cancellation of license of drunkard drivers / riders.
• Setting up of Judicial Commissions to monitor steps taken to control road accidents.
• Straightening / Widening of roads, Implementation of one way traffic and construction of medians.
• Footpaths and medians should be made mandatory for important roads.
• Zebra crossings should be provided for pedestrians for safe road crossings at appropriate places.
• Signals for road crossings at important busy places where a large number of people have to cross the road everyday.
• Proper marking of roads and signals.
• Humps should be provided at all important places, accident prone areas.
• Construction, size and shape of the Humps be scientific. All the Contractors of the Public Works / Other departments should be provided with the details of scientific Hump construction.
• Humps should be clearly marked, to avoid accidents. Methods of permanent nature should be followed in Hump marking. For example white marble pieces / white color / fluorescent pigment can be included in the mixture ( if scientifically OK).
• Provision of small pilot humps few meters before humps can also be considered to ensure that humps are not left unnoticed.
• Elimination of obstructions on road sides, caused by unauthorised construction / road side sales.
• Increasing visibility near curvatures. Sometimes even cutting of grass to increase visibility can help save many lives.
• A small pool of water or a hanging branch of tree on roadsides can cause accident, as such obstructions will make the pedestrians / drivers to take sudden LATERAL movement and result in accidents. Hence any obstruction on road sides which can cause a LATERAL movement should be completely rectified timely.
• Periodic review of accident statistics to understand the effect of actions taken. Corrective steps should be taken based on these reviews. 

The above list of suggestions is not exhaustive. Experts in the field will be able to supplement with more valuable suggestions. If you have some suggestions, comment here or 
mailto: sarathi.drivers4@gmail.com

Steps for bringing down Road Accidents in India (3)

• Refreshment parlors should be made available at (say) every 50 / 100 k.m. on all national highways and truck / heavy vehicle drivers should be forced to refresh by having a face wash or by having a cup of tea / coffee.
• The current practice of keeping the traffic signals in standby mode during nights and on holidays is to be reviewed and discontinued if found prudent.
• Advertisement boards and other items that may obstruct visibility at junctions, curvatures and other parts of the roads should be removed immediately.
• Ensure that the money recovered as Road Tax is fully utilised for the construction /maintenance of roads.
• Time Punching of Private buses (practiced in some states) should be discontinued as it is forcing the drivers to go at high speed, after traffic blocks.
• TV and other media should be effectively used for Public safety awareness.
• Scientific analysis of major accidents / accident prone areas.
• Restriction of speed at accident prone areas.
• Enactment of stringent traffic rules.
• Immediate suspension of license of those who are involved the accidents, at least until they prove that they are not guilty.
• Cancellation of license of those who make serious accidents.
• Proper maintenance of roads. Permanent contracts / arrangements should be in place for maintaining all roads in good condition 24 hours a day, 365 days an year. If a gutter is repaired in time it can save a life !!!

Steps for bringing down Road Accidents in India (2)

• Raising of lower age limit for two wheeler and Heavy Vehicle license to 21.
• Helmet should be made compulsory by law in all states, OR impose a lower speed limit for those who do not use helmet.
• Helmet should be made compulsory for back seat riders also
• Ensure that all Helmet users are fixing the Chinstrap of Helmet.Otherwise it will not help during an accident.
•  Ensure that ONLY good quality Helmets are available in the market.
• Strict enforcement of existing traffic rules.
• Law should be modified such that the person who made the accident has to bear (say) 0 to 10 % of the insurance claims, depending on severity of negligence. Also the compensations should be made very huge, making accidents unaffordable so that everyone will be very vigilant.
• All those who do not maintain the safe distance for the speed should be punished. 
• Safety awareness should begin from childhood, as it is difficult to impart awareness to a grown up a human. If safety awareness is imparted at childhood, safety will be a habit.
• Video / Computer Games that simulate Racing should be banned by Government OR discouraged by parents as it will develop racing habit in children.
• All sorts of Motor sports especially racing should be banned in India by government. Telecast of Motor Sports and Racing also should be banned.
• Racing and over speed / highly risky riding, driving by Heroes should not be filmed in cinemas and TV serials. Government should censor such scenes.
• Children below a certain age should not be permitted to do cycling in busy roads / roads where heavy vehicles are plying.

Steps for bringing down Road Accidents in India.

Some of the following suggestions may be irrelevant, obsolete or even ridiculous, but it is sure that most of the suggestions are capable of saving thousands of lives.

• Most important method to bring down accidents is strict enforcement of speed limits. 90 % of accidents can be avoided by strict enforcement of speed limits.

• Penalty of ( say ) minimum Rs. 1000 should be imposed on ALL
those who cross speed limits. If this is strictly implemented,
nobody will dare to go at high speed.

• Existing speed limits should be brought down further.

• Heavy penalty for those who cause accidents.

• Tamper proof speed controllers should be made mandatory for all
heavy vehicles. New heavy vehicles should have built in tamper proof speed controllers.

• Two wheeler manufacturers should be asked to design two wheelers with a designed maximum speed of (say) 50/60 kmph.

• New gadgets are to be developed for collision prevention and should be fitted on all vehicle. DRDO and other research organizations should be asked to develop such gadgets on a war
footing. For example, gadgets can be developed to automatically slow down the vehicle, if safe distance commensurate with the speed of the vehicle in front is not maintained.

• Diving tests for issue of Driving license is to be made more stringent and foolproof.

Give Happiness !

Decade of Action for Road Safety by WHO (4)

Conclusions and recommendations
Since the previous report to the General Assembly on road safety, many activities have been undertaken locally, nationally, regionally and internationally.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety, launched on 11 May 2011, is a unique opportunity for continued international focus on road safety and the need for increasing focus in setting targets, developing plans of action and implementing activities and monitoring.Much more needs to be done as evidenced by the Global status report on road safety, and levels of funding remain a major challenge, particularly for low- to middle-income countries to implement, sustain and scale up measures that can lead to reduced fatalities and injuries.
Road safety continues to be an area that is not addressed systematically. Lack of national lead agencies, comprehensive and effective legislation, and inadequate road infrastructure are also major challenges that need to be addressed systematically in order to achieve meaningful results. Lack of data and local capacity for monitoring and evaluating road safety projects remains a
challenge, and more needs to be done to strengthen efforts to collect appropriate data for analysis and decision-making on road safety, including the health, social and economic impact, and cost-effectiveness of interventions.
To support actions on the ground during the Decade, more funds will be
needed for United Nations activities and activities in Governments, subnational
authorities and civil societies.

Decade of Action for Road Safety by WHO (3)

                                  The road safety tag was developed as the key visual identity for the Decade and is intended to unite efforts which take place in the context of the Decade. The aim is to encourage groups marking the Decade to “wear, believe, act” by wearing the tag and displaying it on advocacy materials for Decade-related events, reflecting on the impact of road traffic crashes and the possibilities for prevention, and taking action to ensure greater safety on the roads.