In a demonstration of its commitment to proactive policing and community safety, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s directive has led the Punjab Police, in partnership with Yara India, to launch a new road safety awareness campaign titled ‘I Am a Safety Hero’ at the Punjab Police Headquarters this Wednesday.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Traffic and Road Safety Wing of Punjab Police under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, aims to tackle the increasing incidents of road accidents involving agricultural vehicles, particularly tractor-trolleys, by promoting education, awareness, and shared responsibility.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Traffic and Road Safety AS Rai officially inaugurated the campaign, unveiling reflective safety stickers specifically designed for tractor-trolleys. The launch also featured specially crafted Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to support ongoing awareness efforts throughout the year. The event was attended by key figures including Managing Director of Yara South Asia Sanjiv Kanwar and Dr. Navdeep Asija, Director of the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC).

ADGP Rai announced that these educational materials would be distributed to Traffic and Road Safety Education Cells across all districts and Commissionerates of Punjab Police, reaching numerous students and community members through structured programming. To kick off this campaign, a three-day Model Farmers’ Awareness Camp will commence at Asia’s largest grain market, Khanna Mandi, starting Thursday. An air-cooled awareness booth will be set up at the Khanna Market Committee Office, featuring classroom-style seating for a series of ten focused awareness sessions, complemented by street plays, distribution of safety gear, and live demonstrations aimed at farmers, mandi workers, and transporters. The camp will be inaugurated by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Khanna, Jyoti Yadav.

Emphasizing that road safety remains a top priority, ADGP AS Rai stated that this campaign underscores the Punjab Police’s dedication to preventive education and community engagement, fostering behavior change for safer roads for farmers. He stated, “These initiatives highlight the power of collaboration between law enforcement, industry, and the community. We believe that collective action will lead to more effective and lasting outcomes. This campaign aligns with our overall goal of creating a safer Punjab through preventive education, stakeholder involvement, and behavioral change.”

Official statistics show that from 2017 to 2022, Punjab experienced 2,048 road accidents involving tractor-trolleys, resulting in 1,569 fatalities, predominantly among farmers. These tragic events represent approximately 5-6% of all road accident deaths in the state, underscoring the urgent need for rural road safety initiatives.

MD Sanjiv Kanwar reaffirmed the company’s dedication to the welfare of farmers. He stated, “Through ‘I Am a Safety Hero’, we are delivering life-saving knowledge directly to those who need it most. Our collaboration with Punjab Police ensures that this essential message reaches every corner of the community, helping to prevent avoidable tragedies and fostering long-term behavioral change.”

Dr. Navdeep Asija remarked that Khanna is merely the starting point. “We intend to implement this model throughout rural Punjab, encouraging local engagement and innovation in road safety,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, the sticker campaign and related awareness activities will extend across Punjab leading up to the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28. Following this, a statewide road safety awareness initiative will be launched by the Traffic and Road Safety Education Cells under the Traffic and Road Safety Wing of Punjab Police, covering schools, mandis, and vulnerable rural routes.