MUSCAT — The much-awaited national awareness campaign on safety entitled, ‘Safety First, Insurance Next’, spearheaded by The New India Assurance Company Ltd, was launched at Grand Hyatt yesterday.

The grand launching ceremony was held under the patronage of Brigadier Suleiman Al Harthy, director-general of civil defence, ROP, who was the chief guest. Anil Wadhwa, Indian ambassador, was the guest of honour.

In his keynote address, J Retnakumar, resident manager, Oman Operations, The New India Assurance Company Ltd, said: “Swift changes globally have made the world more and more integrated and given rise to the question as to what role corporate entities can play to ensure safety and achieve sustainable development.”

Elaborating further, Retnakumar said: “The question is especially pertinent as countries and markets are becoming more vulnerable to various risks and crises. This is where corporate entities have to play a much broader role and work together to help the world accomplish sustainable social development. That is why we have named this path-breaking campaign “Safety First, Insurance Next”.

Thanking the partners in the campaign, Retnakumar said: “Leading national and international corporate citizens joining the ranks has given the campaign a great boost.”

BEC group, Oman Cables Industry, Lulu Hypermarkets, United Finance Company, Teejan Group, Nagarjuna Constructions, VLCC International, Badr Al Samaa and Abdul Aziz Brothers are the campaign’s partners.

“It is my ardent hope that this campaign will provide a new momentum to corporate entities and inspire them to continue with their endeavours to promote safety,” Retnakumar said.

“We have planned this comprehensive campaign pertaining to road and safety, oil and gas, school, environment, industrial, cyber, aviation, household, road, health and child safety as part of our company’s endeavour to uphold the principles of corporate social responsibilities,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Brig Al Harthy said: “Safety is the responsibility of the entire community and not just the government and the Royal Oman Police. This gathering shows the importance of the community’s interest in safety awareness.

Stressing that safety awareness should start from the family, he said, “If it is practised here it will reach the society”.

He also added that safety was not the responsibility of a single community.

“It is the responsibility of the young, old, educated, non-educated, of all religions and culture,” he said.

Congratulating The New India Assurance for being in the forefront of a very important campaign, Anil Wadhwa said: “I deeply appreciate the initiative of the organisers and partners who have come ahead to promote this awareness.”

Commenting that he is sure the unique campaign will benefit people, he said: “It will create awareness on the significance of safety in daily life and recommend practical solutions.”

Saying that safety should never be compromised, he said: “Human life is of utmost importance. This type of campaign will benefit people”

“Eventually, I hope this campaign will encourage organisations to define their own safety policies,” he added.

“I wish the campaign success in its twin objective, that is safety, number one and insurance, number two,” the ambassador said.

Shukoor Al Ghamary, president, Oman Women’s Association, said: “We women have a huge responsibility in instilling safety awareness in the society.”

The launch also included skits presented by Indian and Omani school students. Against the backdrop of the Sultanate’s fast-track growth and economic liberalisation, the campaign has an all-inclusive objective.

It is aimed at completely changing the way in which people think about safety. It intends to make people aware of the measures and options they can consider to make their lives safe and secure.

The main focus of the campaign will be on topics related to roads and traffic, oil and gas, public transportation, food, aviation, telecom, environment, public health, cyber safety, factories, workplace injuries, schools, household safety and preventive health care.

Eventually, the Safety First, Insurance Next campaign will encourage organisations to devise their own safety policies, motivate corporates and general public to practise effective safety policies, encourage corporates to make effective contingency plans, attract foreign investment, bring about a qualitative improvement in the standard of living, and support investments in human capital.

During the four-month long campaign, experts will make presentations on various issues. This will also include seminars, workshops, talk shows and demos on basic safety issues. The campaign will run untill March 1, 2009.