E R RAMACHANDRAN writes: Before introducing the helmet rule for the nth time, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), thought he should, once again, take the opinion of all concerned for the final time.
Not surprisingly there was wide response, which heartened him. A sample of the responses is given below.
Astrologer Jain: As one who is concerned of the health of all, right from the CM down to the lowly citizen, I feel the new helmet rule should not be introduced in the month of Dhanurmasa, as most riders would have run out of money and will be like Dhurvasa, full of anger and they could throttle themselves to death. The only parihara, I can think of , is, they should pad the inner roof of helmet with Thulsi leaves and sabsige soppu, so that the impact of a fall will be less, apart from cooling in summer.
Police Commissioner: The State Helmet Rule reminds me of a toy called ‘Yo-Yo’, I used to play with, when I was a kid. The only difference is, instead of going up and down, this keeps moving back and forth! I feel all scooter and motorcycle riders should wear helmets on odd dates like 1,3, 5 etc. The even dates like 2,4, 6 etc could be ‘helmet-free’ days, as they wait for the ‘ last & final’ decision from the Govt. This way, both Govt. and riders will be happy.
Deputy CM: I am not bothered what really happens for the first twenty months. After the ‘Rahu- Kethu’ effect is over, I will announce a new Helmet Policy for the State. The new ‘PM-in –Waiting’ has already promised to help me in this regard.
New MLA from Chamundeshwari: With the divine blessings of Chamundeshwari Mathe, blessings from Mathadipathis in the State, the new rule will come into force soon. With the blessings of Madam, when this Govt. falls or when I become the next C.M., whichever is earlier, I will introduce the New Helmet Policy and rule the State. Till then, no wonder we are seeing anarchy in the streets as well as in Vidhana Soudha.
Municipal Commissioner: We are eagerly awaiting the Policy. If the Helmet Policy is introduced, we can divert the funds earmarked for filling the potholes, asphalting the roads to more important jobs such as beautification of Parks, colourwashing our corporation building etc.. We also feel they should use only ISI brands of helmets as they can take the impact of head going into a pothole better!
CM: It is important to have a policy which satisfies everybody. I wonder, sometimes, whether we are rushing this through? That is the reason I stopped short of implementing this rule, before the Bye Election! Even, this didn’t help. We need to find out whether everybody wants it. I am secretly doing my own survey whenever, I am spending time in villages. I have asked Deputy CM to ascertain this in Shivamogga, where I understand, everybody is already wearing helmets for the last 3 days even if they are not riding scooters! Finally, we will have a policy, which will satisfy everybody. I am clear about one thing. At least here, I will not allow anybody to influence my thinking…
**
Meanwhile, there was a commotion outside the RTO’S office as the supporters and opponents of Helmet Rule fought a pitched battle near the gate. As he came out of his room, a well-directed missile crash-landed on RTO’S head. But thanks to the helmet he wore, it left only a dent!
23 December 2006 at 11:26 am
wow! super writing by ERRAM saar again. The opinions of Astrologer Jain :) , police commissioner, deputy cm, cm, municipal commissioner all are very nice. i enjoyed very much.
opinion of jain: saar, what about putting bEvina soppu instead of sabsige soppu. i hope it will prevent us from mohini kaata of RTO “bhoota’s”.
deputy cm: i couldnt make out who the PM in waiting was …..
CM: during chamundi elections, our cm had announced that there is no need to wear helmets. And he wont go against the wishes of people. The same day i had told my friends that it was due to election fear. Vijaya Karnataka had a wonderful headlines that day saying: “idu helmet alla… tOpi”.. One lady had sms’d saying: “sarkaara tanna aadEshavannu hintegedukonDu, namma helmet annu kooDa vaapaas takonDu, namma haNa maru paavatisali”
ACICM and MGP had given a representation to several people in power saying that the helmet will not help in saving lives until the roads are first good. That was very correct. First of all, the roads have to be proper. Facts and figures show that most accidents are caused by faulty roads.
RTO inspectors: “nimagella christmas, new year ge habba… namage 2 days indaane habba shuru aagide.”
from past two days, about 400 people have been fined for not wearing helmet. I guess the number of people who paid 50 rupees and escaped would be double this number.
Beware: if u r travelling on two wheeler without a helmet, then the possible places of getting caught are: kd road, panchavati, near crawford hall-oriental research institute, near kukkarahalli kere double road, near the junctions of famous colleges, all traffic signal points, devaraj urs road. I hope churumuri readers will add some more places.
At last helmet will benefit young boys who want to take their gf’s to balmuri on their bike. And their gf’s will cover their faces with dupatta. (i have seen such scenes in mysore.)