Apropos your news item “Helmet wearing made mandatory for riders and pillion riders” : In this context, it is submitted that the law enforcing agencies are every now and then finding ways to curb the freedom of the otherwise logistically constrained Islanders in one or the other way. The instant notice making it mandatory for pillion riders to wear a helmet is just an example.
 
The question is how do one put a helmet on the head of a children whome we consider too soft to bear the weight of his school bag? Will the small school going children’s head be able to bear the load of a helmet? What will happen to the ailing parents, senior citizens etc who are often ferried to the hospitals on a two wheeler? The notice is going to directly affect the free movement of those common man, who despite offered loan, did not upgrade to more polluting way of commuting - Personal Cars.
 
It is easy for the officers to favour such a move because their comfort level is not going to get affected. They are a blessed lot, using Govt four wheelers to drop their children, wife and to ferry themselves to office, market place or anywhere, any time at the cost of the exchequer. Now don’t crack a joke asking me to furnish the names of such officers or the Registration Number of such vehicles.
 
There are many vehicles still plying with black screen on windows, there are many trucks that emit thick smoke, there are vehicles which still honk the pressure horns, there are many riders who never wear a helmet, there are many vehicles including the Govt one whose drivers and the first seat occupant-escort never wear a seat belt, there are many vehicles which still have the fancy number plates on, there are vehicles which continue to be parked on roads, the buses still do not halt in designated stops, indulge in rash driving, the list is endless …
 
Through the esteemed columns of Andaman Chronicle I request the law enforcers to concentrate on big offenders and spare the two wheeler pillion riders comprising of children, women folks, senior citizens and every common man from the ambit of the draconian advice to wear a helmet while driving pillion.
 
Debkumar Bhadra
Shore Point, Bambooflat
S Andaman-744107