KOCHI: Raghavendra Kumar, popularly known as the ‘Helmet Man of India’, for distributing over 60,000 helmets for free across the country to promote road-safety awareness among motorists, has kicked of his mission in the state.
Raghavendra, who is in Kochi as part of the ministry’s road safety awareness month, launched the initiative by joining hands with Guruvayur Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. His goal is to distribute 1 lakh helmets by the end of this year.
“Kerala is known for having the most educated people in the country. Every parent is making every effort to educate their kids. But the sad reality is that many of them do not prioritise road safety for their own kids. Although parents themselves often wear helmets, they do not ensure their children do the same. This puts them at risk,” said Raghavendra.
According to a report published by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, the total number of accidents recorded in Kerala during 2022 was 43,910, an increase of almost 32% compared to the 2021 figure, he said.
“In fact, Kerala in 2022 recorded the highest number of road accidents since 2018 and ranked third in the country when compared to the total number of accidents in other states. A majority of the accidents occurred because motorists were not wearing helmets. Several lives could have been saved if everyone wore helmets,” he added.
The Helmet Man, hailing from Bihar, said he has so far spent nearly `4 crore promoting road safety by distributing helmets to motorists.
“I started this mission when I lost a close friend in a road accident. Since then, I have been determined to raise awareness about the importance of wearing helmets while riding. I decided to wear a helmet every day until I go to bed. Though some people mocked me at the beginning, I am happy that people have realised the importance and started supporting my mission,” he said.
Interestingly, he sold his house to meet the expenses for his campaign. He also quit his job with Microsoft.
“Now several companies and NGOs are coming forward to support me. I am now focused on raising awareness among children, as educating them will help make the campaign a success in the future,” Raghavendra said.
Aim: 1 lakh helmets
Raghavendra is in Kochi as part of the ministry’s road safety awareness month. His goal is to distribute 1 lakh helmets by the end of this year.