We Cannot Buy Life and Give It, But We Can Save It!

With the increasing number of accidents and life-threatening incidents due to the lack of timely help, we all need to be alert to make way for ambulances carrying patients who require urgent medical treatment. It is a reality that patients’ lives are suffocated in an ambulance while navigating through traffic jams. With the aim of finding a concrete solution to this problem, the concept of Help Rider came into existence and was effectively implemented within 24 hours. Social media facilitated this, bringing together many strangers under this platform. Professionals from the IT sector, engineers, architects, tempo drivers, rickshaw pullers, individuals involved in politics and social causes, and journalists actively participate in the Help Riders movement. Such was the eagerness to participate in this social initiative that within twenty-four hours, over 450 members joined the group in Pune, followed by Help in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Aurangabad Riders groups.

The Help Riders movement was initiated by two bitter incidents. One incident involved an ambulance getting stuck in a traffic jam in Kolhapur, resulting in the unfortunate death of a child who was being transported to the hospital. In another incident, the son of the municipal commissioner in Pune had an accident, and while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, a Good Samaritan driver took the boy to the hospital, saving his life. These incidents highlighted the need for urgent assistance in such situations, leading Prashant Kanojia to take the initiative. Gradually, others like Praveen Pagare, Mahindra Jadhav, Sudin Jayappa, Ajit Jadhav, and Anupam Shah joined the cause. Artist Vinayak Murudkar also contributed by designing the logo for Help Riders. The network of riders is expanding rapidly, and the movement now boasts over 2500 members. In Aurangabad, Sandeep Kulkarni has successfully gathered a group of seven hundred riders.

Where the administration falls short, we step in to help! Initially focused on saving lives, the Help Riders movement took on a new dimension during the deadly Corona epidemic, helping those in need by distributing food grains, and lunch boxes, and assisting sick patients to reach hospitals during the first wave. The movement continues its efforts during the second wave as well.

Helping the poor is an integral part of the Help Riders’ mission, whether it’s assisting in emergencies or supporting those affected by incidents. The members of Help Riders always take the lead. They have helped seven villages in delivering medical aid to the flood-affected areas in Sangli and ensured that every student in these villages receives a complete school kit.