Helping others isn’t an offense any more
More people die in road accidents than in wars. Highways are the death beds. And India is known for its killer roads. Tragedy is, one need not be in a vehicle or drive one to be an accident victim. As per the data available, on an average 56 pedestrians die every year on or by the roads. This number has increased manifold from 2014 to 2017, by a good 66 per cent. Number of vehicle commuters who died on the roads are even higher than this. More than a lakh and half people died on the roads in 2016 in about 5 lakh accidents.
The main reason for post-accident deaths is not the nature of the injury or the breaking of traffic rules, but the delay or non-availability of medical care for the injured persons. Since emergency care is almost unavailable, most injured die before they are taken to the hospital or even before treatment commences. Though some people would like to help the injured, they feel discouraged because they would be forced to appear in court to give testimony of the accident or the aftermath. The long drawn legal process where they’d be made party just because they played the good Samaritan would be of most harrowing experience in today’s world. In a way, deaths are increasing in today’s world owing to the defeat of humanity.
Karnataka govt has initiated a very significant step in this direction. President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a bill that would ensure legal protection to the good Samaritans in the state who help accidents victims with emergency medical care within the 'golden hour'. Named the Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation during Emergency Situations) Bill, 2016 this would also keep those who come to assist the injured from being involved in a legal tangle or be expected to repeatedly visit the police stations over their good act. This would help people come forward to help people who may be lying injured in need of immediate help. Because to watch a person die on the road is the most painful experience for anybody who would like to help.
To blame people of being inhuman is not the complete truth. People hesitate from helping because they fear they’d be caught in an endless legal battle of having to appear in court or give their statement at the hospital and police station (repeatedly) over a medico-legal case involving road accidents. The others who never initiate to help the injured would be busy recording the whole thing on their mobiles and releasing it on social media to get more views and traffic to their video. The good Samaritan suffers at the end. There are cases of people taking the injured to a few particular hospitals of their preference and then fleece the injured of their money. They work hand in glove with private hospitals to ensure the accident survivor is not taken to a government hospital but to a private one to aid business to the agencies. One should not be surprised to see police sharing this network nexus with fleecing parties.
The new bill supports genuine souls who would want to get the injured to hospital and stay free from legal tangles. Earlier, those who rushed the injured to the hospital would have to wait till the police arrived on the scene to record their statement. They had to give their phone number and address. Now this bill would enable the helper to leave at his convenience, liberating him from the compulsions of having reveal his address or wait till the police arrive. More than anything else, the state government would help the good Samaritan with some financial benefits for his humane act. If he/she is required to appear in the court, their costs would be covered for that time. This will, most certainly, bring down the number of deaths that happen due to non-availability of medical help during the golden hour. And it is indeed a proud moment for the state since Karnataka would be taking the lead in this. Ours is the first state to introduce the bill among all other states in the country.
Like in most cases, Karnataka has taken a step towards saving lives by way of ensuring law aids this, and does not block the possibility of saving lives. Way to go!
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Amul to sponsor USA cricket team in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): Indian dairy giant Amul will sponsor the USA cricket team in the T20 World Cup in June, the country's cricket board announced on Thursday.
The USA will be making their tournament debut as co-hosts of the tournament beginning June 1. Part of the event, including the semifinals and finals, will take place in the Caribbean.
Amul was named the Lead Arm sponsor of the USA national team at an event in New York.
The World Cup opener will be played between USA and Canada on June 1.
The Indian dairy behemoth with global footprints has sponsored cricket teams in the past as well including the Netherlands. Amul milk is also now being sold in the USA.
USA recently beat Canada 4-0 in a bilateral series.
Venu Pisike, Chairman of USA Cricket, said: "Collaborating with esteemed brands like Amul inspires us to strive for excellence both on and off the field."
"The goodness of Amul Milk will empower the USA Cricket team to win hearts and laurels from across the world. We wish our best to the team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024," Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of Amul, added.
