Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Transport Department has partnered with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to deploy NCC cadets as ‘Junior Rakshak’ across the state. An MoU to this effect was signed at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, marking a crucial step towards improving road safety and reducing fatalities.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed the event via video-conferencing, underscoring the importance of timely first aid in saving lives during road accidents.
In the initial phase of the collaboration, approximately 62,000 NCC cadets will undergo training to act as first responders and administer first aid to road accident victims. This training will be conducted at various NCC camps spread across Odisha. The Transport Department has set an ambitious target of training around 20,000 NCC cadets annually, emphasizing the scale and urgency of the initiative.
The ‘Rakshak’ program, launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2021, aims to provide immediate assistance to road accident victims within the critical ‘golden hour’, ensuring they receive vital medical attention and are swiftly transported to the nearest hospital. Since its inception, the program has made significant strides, with over 12,000 first responders trained across Odisha.
Under the newly forged partnership with the NCC, the state government seeks to further strengthen its emergency response mechanism, leveraging the widespread presence and discipline of NCC cadets to bolster road accident rescue efforts. By equipping these cadets with essential first aid skills, the initiative aims to augment the state’s capacity to mitigate the impact of road accidents and save precious lives.
