Chennai, Mar 10 (UNI) With an aim at creating awareness among the public on the importance of wearing helmet, the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School today organised a roller skating programme.

More than 100 agile Velammalians, studying in LKG to sixth standard, participated in the programme.

The awareness programme was organised at a time when the Tamil Nadu Government was seriously thinking of making wearing of helmet compulsory to prevent head injuries during accidents.

Chennai Corporation Mayor Ma Subramaniam flagged off the programme at the Annanagar Round Tana and the young skaters traversed through the two-km stretch before culminating in the Thirumangalam area.

Speaking on the occasion, Annanagar Deputy Commissioner of Police P Balasubramanian stressed the need for wearing helmets to prevent head injuries during accidents.

''Don't wear helmet for the sake of government rule. Wear the helmet for your own personal safety'', he said.

Velammal school correspondent M V M Velmohan told UNI that this was not only an awareness programme, but also an opportunity to show that the school management care for the people of this metropolis and make their life safe and secure.

''Head injuries are a great threat to the two-wheelers. It is a pity that we don't have enough awareness on the importance of wearing helmet'', he said, and adding that personal safety should be inculcated in everyone.

''Keeping this in mind, we decided to organise the programme with the theme -- Wear Helmet: Keep you away from head injury'', he said.

UNI