‘Suraksha Bandhan’ Season 2 for truck drivers and their doting sisters
The initiative aimed towards celebrating the cherished bond between truck drivers and their doting sisters in a unique manner on Raksha Bandhan owing to the current global situation. A symbol of eternal love and bond between brothers and sisters, the festival of Raksha Bandhan always holds a special place in the hearts of millions of Indians. Celebrating this endearing relationship, ‘Suraksha Bandhan Season 2, a one-of its kind campaign initiated by Gulf Superfleet Turbo Plus Engine Oil and BIG FM culminated on a highly successful note. While last year, truck drivers received a heart-warming surprise which united them with their sisters, this year the initiative took a unique turn due to the current situation. Understanding the concern of sisters for the safety of their trucker brothers, Gulf Oil presented them with a unique ‘Suraksha Rakhi’ consisting of 45 paper soaps which will keep them healthy and sanitized at all times.
In the current scenario, its been observed that about 30% of truck drivers are on the road while the rest had been forced to return home. As these drivers are looking forward to hitting the road again, the biggest concern for their sisters remains their safety since the pandemic is far from over. As the festival signifies Suraksha, Gulf Superfleet Turbo Plus Engine Oil and BIG FM wanted to ensure the safety of the truck driver brothers while extending their gratitude for their relentless work throughout the year. Since sanitization is the need of the hour, whether it is washing hands before a meal or before getting behind the wheel, this ‘Suraksha Rakhi’, a gift from their sisters which symbolises safety, can be easily carried with them during their long travels.
BIG FM created a toll free number and urged their female listeners to give a missed call showing their appreciation for their trucker brothers. For each missed call received, a Suraksha Rakhi was distributed on ground. Receiving an overwhelming response, they successfully distributed a whopping 10,600 Rakhis along with 32,000 masks over 4 days at Toll Nakas, Transport Nagars and Dhabas, while recording the experience in the form of audio and video bytes. This was conducted across 14 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Rajkot, Surat, Indore, Gaziabad, Faridabad, Aurangabad, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kanpur, Jaipur, Udaipur & Amritsar.
Taking the thought further, BIG FM also created a special toll-free hotline and invited the truckers to share heart-warming stories of their current situation and their plans for the special day. The radio station also tied up with Transport TV and committees to reach out to as many trucker brothers as possible. The response was overwhelming as they received an astounding 927 messages from truckers across the country which were played on-air.
Commenting on the campaign, Mr Ravi Chawla, MD and CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, “Through this campaign, like last year, we once again reached out to the truck drivers of our country in an effort to make a small but positive difference to their lives. Being true unsung heroes, who experience various hardships, they work diligently to fulfil the needs of their families as well as the entire nation and it is very important that they don’t miss out on such special occasions as this festival of Raksha Bandhan. As a brand, we are known to take care of their engines and vehicles but through this campaign, we wanted to go a step further and ensure the safety of the truck drivers as well. Since radio is something which truck drivers tune-in to almost on a daily basis and is a medium that’s close to their hearts, we are glad to be associated with BIG FM to bring a smile on their faces through this thoughtful initiative.”
Speaking about the campaign, RJ Abhilash shared, “Raksha Bandhan has always been a special festival for all brothers and sisters. Truck drivers work tirelessly round the year and are away from their families for a long period; they are indeed our heroes. The current scenario has further posed many challenges for them and I am glad through this campaign we could bring them closer to their sisters in an exceptional way, ensuring their safety. Its heartening to hear their stories and the several messages we have received. I am glad to be a part of an initiative which has inspired people to cherish the extraordinary bond between a brother and sister.”
Additionally, a special video dedicated to the truckers was also created by all the female RJs that saw them send their wishes of safety on the occasion and also educate them on how to use the Suraksha Rakhi to keep themselves safe. Not only this, a special ‘SURAKSHA BANDHAN 2.0’ anthem was also composed which highlighted the underlying thought of ‘Rishton ke dhaage, nibhaaye Suraksha ke vaade’. To amplify the reach of the campaign, a video version of the song capturing the visual emotions of the truck drivers was released across social media platforms.