Sisters4change sets new trend

KAVITHA’S CANDID DRIVE FOR SAFETY

Hyderabad: This Raksha Bandhan should make a difference. It should send a clear message that the concept of protection should be from both sides brother and sister.

“The ritual should add meaning to the bond and while the brother promises to protect his sister on this auspicious day, the sister by presenting him a helmet would emphasise on the need for safety. Similarly, the brothers too should gift a helmet to his sister if she is a two-wheeler user.

This is what Nizamabad MP K Kavitha feels. Talking to The Hans India, she said: “In this country, there are about 400 people getting killed every day just because they don’t wear helmet. I believe this is the time to change. That is why we had launched the campaign sisters4change.

This Raksha Bandhan let us all sisters come together and make sure and all our brothers wear helmets. This is a trend that where we sisters can come together and reverse this. Let us tie Rakhi to our brothers and request them to wear helmet and gift them helmets. Sisters4Change is a way to go… is a way to change things in the nation,” said Kavitha.

She said the campaign has touched many in the various fields including sports personalities and politicians and has received instant support from all quarters across the nation and she thanked them all.

Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya said that it was a good initiative. Lot of efforts have been made to inculcate the discipline of using helmets but still many people were losing precious life in accidents as they don’t use helmet. Presenting helmet while tying Rakhi would certainly make brothers take the issue seriously, he said.

The social media too had overwhelmingly supported the cause initiated by Kavitha. Sports personalities, including cricketer Virendra Sehwag, had also advised the sisters to gift helmets. “Good initiative. Driving helmetless and overspeeding is passport to grave. Please don’t be in a hurry. Be safe & gift your loved ones a helmet,” said the Nawab of Najafgarh through his twitter handle.

Apart from Sehwag, badminton stars Saina Nehwal and Gutta Jwala cricketer and Indian women’s team captain Mithali Raj have pledged their support to the cause. Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari thanked Kavitha for taking up the campaign. “Thank you @RaoKavitha for taking up this noble cause,” is what Gadkari tweeted. Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too have welcomed and supported the campaign.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan launched a websitewww.sisters4change.org appreciating Kavitha. Similarly, the political parties too have supported the cause by appreciating the efforts of Kavitha. Assam MP Gavrav Gogoi, Congress MP Jyotiraditya Schindia, BJP MP Ramesh Pokhriyal and others have appreciated Kavitha for the initiative. Her brother and minister KT Rama Rao called it as a great initiative. “Safety of brothers across India! Now that sounds interesting,” said KTR.

Director Tharun Bhaskar too joined the initiative, calling it ‘a beautiful initiative’. “This Rakhi, gift your brothers a helmet. Help protect them against road accidents,” he tweeted. Singer Anup Jalota said, “Appreciated. And make sure to take a promise from all brothers that they will always wear it.”

The TRS MP had started an online campaign on social media. “Anguished by the number of 2-wheeler accidents, I would like to make a serious effort 2 save some lives. Join me #Sisters4Change and #GiftAHelmet,” said Kavitha in her twitter handle @RaoKavitha. Kavitha had started the ‘Sister4Change, gift a helmet’ campaign on the birthday of her brother and minister K T Rama Rao on July 24.