In Surajgarh of Jhunjhunu district, a remarkable humanitarian initiative has been established to prevent fatalities caused by a lack of timely medical assistance during road accidents. Often, accident victims are left stranded on roads without immediate help, leading to fatal consequences. Deeply moved by this painful reality after a personal tragedy, a local resident resolved to help those suffering on the roads. Today, this personal commitment has turned into a vital lifeline of hope for hundreds of families.
Formation and Operations of Jeevan Jyoti Raksha Samiti
The Jeevan Jyoti Raksha Samiti in Surajgarh has been actively transporting road accident victims to hospitals for the past 17 years. According to the organization, over this span, approximately 17,540 injured individuals from 8,942 road accidents have been brought to medical facilities. Out of these, more than 16,000 lives were successfully saved. Today, more than three dozen people are associated with the committee, working tirelessly to transport the injured to hospitals without charging any fees.
Operating Two Ambulances with No Charges for Patients
The primary objective of the committee is to ensure that no injured person loses their life due to a lack of treatment. To fulfill this goal, members remain ready day and night to assist those in need. The committee owns two ambulances used for transporting the injured, which are operated directly by the members themselves. No money is charged from the injured individuals or their families for this service. To cover ambulance operations and other essential expenses, committee members contribute a monthly membership fee of 200 rupees each. When necessary, financial support is also gathered from local philanthropists. Initially, the committee limited its services to road accident victims within the Surajgarh area, but now it also shoulders the responsibility of transporting patients referred from Surajgarh to hospitals in Jhunjhunu free of charge, providing immense relief to families during emergencies.
Regret Over Lives Lost Despite Best Efforts
Ashok Jangid, the director of the committee, shares that over the past 11 years, they have rushed thousands of injured people to hospitals, saving many lives through timely medical intervention. However, during this period, approximately 416 lives could not be saved, a fact that still brings him deep sorrow. Ashok explains that every possible effort is made to save every injured person, but sometimes the injuries are so severe that despite all attempts, survival is impossible. Despite this, the committee members have never lost heart, and their continuous effort remains directed toward ensuring timely help for anyone found injured on the road.
The Tragic Loss That Sparked the Resolution
A painful incident lies behind Ashok Jangid's dedication to this service work. About 17 years ago, his uncle Omprakash Jangid was severely injured in a road accident near Loharu. Ashok recounts that his uncle lay suffering on the road for nearly an hour and a half, but no one stepped forward to take him to a hospital in time, ultimately leading to his death. This heartbreaking event shook Ashok to his core. The pain of losing his uncle became a turning point in his life, inspiring him to save the lives of others. He vowed that very day to do everything in his power to prevent any other injured person from losing their life due to delayed medical care. Initially, Ashok started transporting accident victims to hospitals in his own car. Gradually, as people witnessed his dedication, others stepped forward to help. Some offered time, some provided financial support, and others contributed resources. What started as an individual effort gradually transformed into a collective campaign, leading to the establishment of the Jeevan Jyoti Raksha Samiti.
Philanthropists Expand the Ambulance Fleet
Generous donors have played a significant role in helping the committee expand its mission. The first ambulance was provided to the committee by philanthropist Dariya Singh Tetarwal. After about six years of continuous operation, that ambulance broke down, and he provided a second vehicle as well. Subsequently, the committee gathered support from other donors to purchase a Bolero and convert it into an ambulance, which further strengthened the arrangements for rushing the injured to medical centers.
Today, the members of the Jeevan Jyoti Raksha Samiti are engaged in this work not for recognition or financial gain, but purely out of a sense of humanity. For them, every injured person lying on the road is someone's own family member in urgent need of help. Ashok Jangid's resolve remains just as strong today as it was after losing his uncle, continuing every possible effort to ensure timely medical care for the injured in Surajgarh.
