Post Tengpora accident: DC Srinagar holds interaction session with civil society, representatives of coaching centres, private schools

Srinagar, Nov 20: In order to prevent road accidents and take safety measures to safeguard precious human lives, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat today chaired a meeting with members of Civil society, representatives of Coaching Centres and Private Schools here at DC Office.

Besides, Additional District Development Commissioner, Sheikh Ghulam Hassan, the meeting was attended by the Chief Education Officer, representatives of Coaching Centres Association of Kashmir and Private Schools, Officers of line Departments and other concerned.

The meeting was held in the wake of the recent tragic road accident on the Tengpora Bemina highway.

At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner expressed deep concern over the rising instances of road accidents involving juveniles and emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to address the underlying causes.

The DC held threadbare discussion to explore modalities for addressing critical issues to curb road accidents and fostering a collaborative approach to ensure the safety and well-being of people particularly of the youth.

While deliberating the issue of underage driving, which has often resulted in tragic accidents, it was observed that a lack of awareness, coupled with inadequate parental supervision, has led to juveniles being involved in reckless driving practices.

On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for strict enforcement of traffic laws and awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents. He outlined a multi-pronged strategy to tackle these issues by launching a massive awareness campaign to educate students and parents about their role to prevent such incidents. He also emphasised on strict enforcement of Traffic rules to curb underage driving, including enhanced monitoring and penalties.

The DC further stressed Parent-Teacher collaboration, regular interactions between parents, teachers, and coaching centre representatives to ensure that students receive consistent guidance both at home and in educational settings.

In addition, the DC emphasized the need for formation of a dedicated task force committee comprising representatives from the Administration, Educational Institutions, coaching centres and Civil society to oversee the implementation of safety and awareness initiatives.

The DC further advocated for integration of Safety Modules in Education setup by incorporating modules on road safety, drug abuse prevention, and mental health, besides, community engagement: efforts to involve local communities in addressing these issues through regular workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions.

President of the Coaching Centres Association of Kashmir, Haamid Mufti, assured the Deputy Commissioner that Coaching Centres across Kashmir stand committed to work shoulder to shoulder with the authorities to address these pressing issues. He emphasised the role of coaching centres in shaping the lives of students beyond academics. He proposed the inclusion of regular awareness sessions on road safety, drug abuse prevention, and mental health in the curriculum of coaching centres. He also highlighted the need for collaboration between Educational Institutions, Parents and Administration to ensure the safety and overall well being of students.