Odisha Minister, MLA fined Rs 1,000 for riding bike without helmets

Bhubaneswar: An Odisha minister and a lawmaker paid fine for breaking the traffic rule that mandates helmet.

Odisha School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Balasore MLA Swaroop were riding a bike to visit a school for inspection on Saturday.

A footage showed them on a bike with the minister pillion riding, both without wearing helmets.

The motorcycle owner, who is a friend of Das, received an e-challan through SMS from the traffic police.

"In the morning we were in a hurry to make a surprise visit to some schools. No four-wheelers were available at that time so we went on a motorcycle. Mid-way we realised that we did not wear helmets," said Das.

Soon after the visit, the MLA turned himself in to the traffic police station and paid Rs 1,000 as fine.

During the inspection at Mahavir Nodal School in Balasore, state School and Mass Education Minister Dash found that the Class 3 students were unable to recite the table of three.

"When I reached the school, mathematics class was going on. So I asked the students about tables, but the students failed to recite the table of three," Dash told mediapersons after the field visit.

The minister directed the District Education Officer (DEO) to stall salary of the headmistress until the Class 3 students are able to recite tables up to 15.

Source: IANS