Government launches nationwide campaign against use of substandard helmets
In view of safety of two wheeler riders the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has launched a nationwide drive against the manufacturers and retailers who are selling substandard helmets.
The move comes after growing concerns over the quality of the helmets being available in the market. There has been a rise in black-market of helmets, ignoring the safety of the riders for few extra bucks. These low quality helmets do not comply with the government advisory and incompetent in providing safety to its riders.
DoCA has written to District Collectors (DCs) and District Magistrates (DMs) to directing them to take necessary action against manufacturers and retailers who sell non-compliant helmets for two-wheeler riders.
As per the official data, `62 licenses of helmet manufacturers have been cancelled. Besides, 27 searches and seizures have been conducted that concludes the sheer violation of BIS standard mark or Violation of quality control orders (QCO).
The Ministry of Road and Transport has made mandatory for helmet manufacturers to comply with BIS standard mark. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, if anyone is caught using or selling helmets without the above-mentioned certification, they might end up getting two years of imprisonment or at least a Rs 2 lakh fine or both.
- With inputs from agencies
