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Journalism of Courage
With the vehicular traffic on Mumbai roads consistently increasing,there has been an increase in accidents involving pedestrians. Recent years have seen a few citizen-driven initiatives promoting the need for better regulation and traffic discipline on city roads.
One such initiative is spearheaded by a five-member team of the Safe Kids Foundation,which is helping the Mumbai police in spreading awareness regarding pedestrian safety among school children. The initiative is part of an effort undertaken across 23 countries.
We are among the 10 countries that have started pedestrian safety programme to educate children about road safey, said Rupa Kothari,trustee and executive editor of Safe Kids Foundation.
The initiative,called Walk This Way,was launched in Mumbai on October 3,2007. It educates children regarding pedestrian safety. It also conducts interactive sessions for parents,teachers and volunteersIts the children from public schools who walk on the road more often than those from private schools,so educating them is essential, said Kothari.
Safe Kids Foundation was launched in the country in 2006,and is an extension to the Safe Kids Worldwide family.
The NGO primarily works with children under 14. Globally,accidents kill a million children annually. In India,this number is around 60,000. Several others suffer permanent injuries in road accidents
From following the zebra crossing to using the footpath to imparting knowledge about traffic signs,the children are trained in all realms of pedestrian safety, said Kothari.
megha.sood@expressindia.com
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