Safety First

Joy is multiplied manifold when education is combined with entertainment and appreciation and reward. Adults the world over, work towards inculcating intrinsic discipline in their children, hoping that they do something because it is good for them. As adults, some of us follow rules without being reminded to and some of us, well.. follow rules only when we fear being caught. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than on our roads.

This was addressed in Pune, by a bunch of 40 committed volunteers, who took to the roads in Pune to appreciate and reward those drivers who maintained road discipline and safety. Called Roadstar: Positive Ticket Campaign, it aimed at identifying those who followed traffic and safety rules without being reminded to and they were “recognised and rewarded for their positive contribution and influence others to adopt similar behaviour.” Those identified were rewarded with appreciation certificates and a discount coupon ranging in amounts from Rs5 to Rs20. These coupons would entitle them to a discount on their insurance renewal. Launched on the 19th of Sept. 2009 as a part of the Joy of Giving Week, this campaign reached out to more than 1000 people at 5 main traffic signals in Pune and was so well received that it continued much after the week had come to an end..

While those rewarded would have definitely felt thrilled, what of the volunteers who co-ordinated the event ? What were the lessons they learnt and what was their reward? They learnt to deal with strangers and build good interpersonal skills but more important they learnt that being intrinsically motivated to do something is infinitely better for good work does get recognized. As for their reward, what can be better than seeing the look of puzzlement change to incredulous surprise be replaced by sheer joy on the faces of those rewarded. That was their reward; the joy, the Joy of Giving.