Good Samaritan law, supporting awareness needed

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 03, 2017: Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader, following back-to-back incidents where people remained mute spectators to the plight of accident victims busy recording the incident on their mobile phone cameras, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said people’s mindset should change in this regard.

Reacting to media queries on Feb 2, Thursday here, Minister Khader, who initiated Good Samaritan Act in the State in the fag end of his tenure as health and family welfare minister to enable people rush the mishap victims without fearing for further consequences, recalled that there were discussions over how to compel the public by initiating action against such bystanders wihthout coming to the rescue of victims, but met with lukewarm response due to the legal hurdles that may trigger later.

Minister Khader exuded confidence Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh may take it ahead further as the Good Samaritan Act will not succeed without effective participation of the people. Most importantly, such a good Samaritan mindset should be developed in the nascent stage by making it a part of regular education right from school level, he added.

Members of the public among other things pointed out that, in addition to laws, there should also be some facilities and equipment near at hand to assist accident victims as it is often a delicate and messy operation for a lay person who is not sufficiently trained and motivated even if they are keen to help in the circumstances.

Cash coupons for PDS : On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent announcement to scrap his ambitious scheme of providing cash coupons against ration under Public Distribution System, Khader said, "The government is committed towards abiding by people’s opinion. Accordingly, following the demand of a majority of people for ration against cash coupons, the chief minister has decided to continue with existing system by distributing essential commodities directly in time to the people."

Defending the scheme mooted by him, Khader said, the software is ready and the pilot project has been planned in three districts. It is also the duty of every department to devise innovative schemes, he added.