NGOs' PARTICIPATION IN ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS SECTOR

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There are three schemes for Road Safety under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in which an NGO can participate. Details of these schemes are as given

below :-

1. Grants-in –aid for administering Road Safety Programmes.

Under this scheme grants-in-aid is provided to NGOs to undertake various types of road safety programmes for raising road safety consciousness among the road users, publicity campaigns on road safety, providing training facilities and medical aid to the victims of road accidents. Any registered Voluntary Organisation engaged in research activity or field programmes relating to road safety for a period of at least two years can apply for financial assistance.

2. Refresher Training to Heavy Vehicle Drivers in Unorganised Sector

This scheme was formulated in 1997-98 for providing Refresher Training to Heavy Vehicle Drivers in Unorganised Sector, as most of the drivers of heavy vehicles do not have access to recognised training institutes and are generally uneducated and untrained. The scheme aims at educating/motivating the drivers to inculcate safe driving habits, rules of the road, understand the road signs and signals, road marks as well as rules and other provisions of Law, to keep the vehicle in road worthy condition and to develop understanding regarding the critical parts of the vehicle namely brake system, steering system, electric system, tyres etc. Apart from this, medical check up is also done.

3. National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS)

With a view to provide immediate medical assistance to the victims of road accidents and removing damaged vehicles from the National Highways, a National Highway Patrolling Scheme was finalised during 1993-94, under which Rupees Twenty Five lakhs was provided to States as one time financial assistance for procurement of one 16 ton crane and one ambulance. This scheme has been reviewed and modified in 2000-2001 and is now implemented through States Government/UTs and established NGOs in the field of road safety, by providing equipment in place of cash grant.

List of the States/NGOs to whom financial assistance has been provided for purchase of crane and ambulance under National Highway Patrolling Scheme from the year 1998-99 to 2000-2001

1998-99

Sl. No.	Name of the States/UTs	Amount (Rs. in lakhs)
1.	Delhi	25.00
2.	Sikkim	25.00
3.	Arunachal Pradesh	25.00
4.	Meghalaya	25.00
5.	Manipur	25.00
6.	Pondicherry	25.00
7.	Chandigarh	25.00
8.	Bihar	25.00

1999-2000

9.	Karnataka	25.00
10.	Himachal Pradesh	25.00
11.	Gujarat	25.00
12.	Haryana	25.00
13.	Assam	25.00
14.	West Bengal	25.00
15.	Uttar Pradesh	25.00
16.	Madhya Pradesh	25.00
17.	Mizoram	25.00
18.	Tamil Nadu	25.00
19.	Rajasthan	25.00

2000-2001*

S. No.	Name of the States/UTs/NGOs	Ambulances	Cranes
1.	Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (Ambulance only)	28	-
2.	M/s Lok Manya Medical Foundation Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra	2	-
3.	M/s Automobile Association of Southern India AASI Centre, 187, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	2	-
4.	M/s Karunodaya Seva Sansthan, Baracha, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh	2	-
5.	M/s Zoram Drivers Union, Bawngkawn, Aizwal, Mizoram	1	-
6.	M/s Manipur Truck Owners Welfare Association, M.G.Avenue, Imphal, Manipur	1	-
7.	Association for Welfare of Backward classes in Sikkim, Gurpisey, Namchi, South Sikkim.	1	-
8.	M/s Rural Youth Coordination Centre, Amnour, Distt. Saran, Bihar	1	-
9.	Institute of Road Traffic Education, New Delhi	2	-
10.	Highway Users Centre, Mumbai (Ambulance transferred to Lokmanya Medical Foundation on State Government adivce)	1	-

Note* : Cranes have been provided to these NGOs during the subsequent years i.e. 2001-2002

This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Road Transport and Highways, Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri, AVSM(Retd.) in a written reply to a question of Shri R.L. Jalappa and Shri G.S. Basavaraj in the Lok Sabha today.