Study finds over half of truck drivers suffer from vision issues, high BP
A pilot study conducted across six states—Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—revealed that over 55% of truck drivers suffer from compromised vision, while 57% have elevated blood pressure levels. The study, conducted under "Project Abhay" by IIT-Delhi’s Centre for Rural Development & Technology (CRDT) in collaboration with Foresight Foundation, screened 50,713 drivers over the past year.
The report, released by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, highlighted that 53.3% of drivers required distance vision correction, while 46.7% needed near-vision correction. Immediate on-site distribution of spectacles ensured that 93.7% of drivers with refractive errors received corrective eyewear, reducing potential road accidents.
Gadkari emphasized the government's commitment to improving driver welfare and road safety, while also addressing India’s truck driver shortage—currently at 22 lakh drivers. He reiterated plans to transition 80% of the truck fleet to CNG or LNG to lower logistics costs and environmental impact. He noted that inadequate driver shifts and manpower shortages contribute to road accidents, with truck-related fatalities accounting for approximately 10,000 deaths annually.
Health screenings also showed that 44.3% of drivers had borderline or above Body Mass Index (BMI), while 18.4% displayed high blood sugar levels. Counseling on lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and stress management was provided, with urgent cases referred for medical evaluation. Additionally, mental health counseling desks were set up, with resources like Tele-MANAS offering 24x7 tele-mental health support.
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Family of injured driver in murder of Suvendu's aide seeks exemplary punishment
Kolkata (PTI): The family of Buddhabeb Bera, the driver injured in the shooting that killed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the new government to ensure such incidents do not happen in West Bengal.
Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram near Kolkata on Wednesday night, triggering a political storm in the state. Bera, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family members said they learned about the incident through television and immediately left for Kolkata.
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"We came to know from TV reports that my nephew had been shot. We still do not know who carried out the attack or why it happened," Buddhabeb's uncle Biswajit Bera said.
"Our only wish now is that he recovers and returns home safely," he added.
Buddhabeb, 25, hails from Majnaberia village in the Chandipur police station area in Purba Medinipur district.
According to family members, he mostly stays in Kolkata for work and visits home occasionally during weekends.
Besides his parents, his younger brother, sister-in-law and several relatives have also travelled to Kolkata following the incident.
Demanding strict action against the perpetrators, the uncle said, "We want the government to conduct a proper investigation and identify those directly involved in the crime. They should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents do not happen again in West Bengal and no other family has to go through this grief."
A neighbour, Ranjana Ghorai, also sought stringent punishment for those behind the attack.
"In our neighbourhood, we call him Sona. We want exemplary punishment for the people responsible for this incident," she said.
Rath's family members have demanded life imprisonment for the accused, while Adhikari has called for capital punishment for those involved in the killing.
