SAHID BAJI ROUT NOUJATRA SURAKSHA YOJANA

A scheme for subsidised distribution of life saving equipments : lifebuoys, life jackets and fire extinguishers for the safety of passengers of boats/launches plying in the inland waterways of the State.

INTRODUCTION:

Odisha is endowed with rivers, lakes, reservoirs and navigable canals. Large no. of boats and launches are plying in these water bodies for ferry crossing and inland water transport in remote and inaccessible areas in the State without adopting sufficient safety standards for passengers. Sometimes mishaps and accidents are occurring in these places causing loss of lives and property.

Boat plying is a means of livelihood of private operators who belong to mostly economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income groups (LIG) of the rural areas. As per the Odisha Boat Rules-2004 following minimum requisites are to be complied by the operator/owner of boat for safety of passengers:

Lifebuoy: 1 for 5 passengers subject to minimum of 2 to a boat
Life Jacket: 1 no. per person
Fire Fighting Equipment: 01 no.

Though it is mandatory for the boat owner to make provision for life saving devices for the passengers, many of them don t follow the rules because such equipment are expensive and their financial condition do not permit them for procuring sufficient safety equipment.

OBJECTIVE:

In order to address this issue and to sensitise boat operators, passengers, and other stake- holders about the dangers of unsafe navigation practices, State Govt. have been pleased to introduce a new safety scheme called Sahid Baji Rout Noujatra Suraksha Yojana. Under this scheme boats/launches shall be equipped with lifesaving equipment for ensuring safety of the passengers plying in the inland waterways of Odisha.

The scheme is meant to distribute this lifesaving equipment to both Private & Govt.

passenger boats/launches as one time assistance at 95% subsidy to the private boat/launch operators/owners and free of cost to Govt. of Odisha and its PSUs operated boats/launches to ensure safety of the passengers and to facilitate registration/renewal of the boats.

NORMS FOR EQUIPMENT:

Lifebuoy:1 (One) no. for 5 passengers subject to minimum of 2 nos. to a boat
Life Jacket:1 (One) no. for each passenger & crews (as per capacity of boat)
Fire Extinguisher: 1 (One) no. for each mechanized boat/launch

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

The boats/ launches plying in the inland waterways in the State owned by Government of Odisha & its PSUs and private persons are eligible to avail the benefit under Sahid Baji Rout Noujatra Suraksha Yojana.

NODAL AUTHORITY FOR THE SCHEME:

Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport, Bhubaneswar under Commerce & Transport (Commerce) Deptt. is the Nodal Authority at the State level for procurement and distribution of the life-saving equipment through District Authorities.

Nodal Authority i.e., Director, Ports & IWT will allot his official representatives from time to time to the Districts for coordination with District Authorities for successful implementation of the Scheme.

DISTRIBUTION OF LSA IN 2023-24

District	Lifebuoy	Lifejacket	Fire Extinguisher
Keonjhar	10	40	Nil
Subarnapur	86	407	19
Balasore	43	167	Nil
Mayurbhanj	08	20	Nil
Khordha	546	3334	276
SRC	301	1838	285
Puri	1246	7476	623
Puri (CDA)	10	60	Nil
Sundargarh	22	109	07
Bhadrak	91	515	26
Principal C.T.I.	07	34	04
TOTAL	2370	14,000	1,245