At the fruit sellers this morning ,I heard him say "cops don't allow us sit here for too long madam, we try and sell as much as we can in a couple of hours and pack up". I turned around and looked at the cops, around 9 of them standing there with masks .Their job today was to stop people who weren't wearing masks and going about like it was a normal day and Covid-19 was just a bad dream... and ask them to wear one for their own safety ,to stop the spread of the virus. On other days they stop people to remind them to wear seat belts / helmets , to carry the correct documents, to avoid substance abuse while driving for their own safety as well as others. Rules which all of us have learnt before we passed the driving test .Rules which we left behind at the RTO when we walked out of it with our license.
I bought a bag full of bananas and gave it to the cops. Surprised at the gesture, they thanked me. I got back home and made chilled lemonade ,went back with bottles of it and distributed it to the cops and all the fruit sellers sitting there.
Remember ,these are our front line of defense workers.On duty on the streets , rains or the scorching heat ,tirelessly working ,exposed to risks and a classic case of khaki slavery.They get paid for it you say, you'll be surprised at the meager amount they get for the number of hours they work.
90% of the police staff work 12-14 hour shifts ,sometimes 17-20 during festivals, baands, curfews,elections, VIP visits and now the lockdown. They are fatigued, tired , overworked and suffer from job related health issues. Most of the stations work with only 40% of the required staff because not enough cops are hired to keep up with the growing population,resulting in long hours of work and tired and irritated cops.
Their duty entails everything from maintaining law and order, being called for emergencies at odd hours, making arrangements for our VIP's , apart from their daily work load and giving us crash courses on driving rules. All this with only a lathi in hand.
A visit to any police station will show you the sad conditions they work in.I remember a visit to the karaswada police station a few months back to file a complaint ,the sight was pitiable to say the least.Uncomfortable plastic chairs, bare minimum stationery, not enough light, seepage ,damp walls and cops who looked over worked and exhausted. These conditions affect their health, the young cop whom I interacted with had a cold which he said he got every couple of months due to lack of ventilation and damp walls.Have seen so many cops suffer from varicose vein problems due to long hours of standing, burnt out skin due to direct exposure to the sun ,acidity due to irregular eating habits and lack of fluids in their system and am sure many more.
They are expected to do 12-14 hours duty during bandobast duties to cater to VIP visits , ever wondered if they could afford meals from restaurants during these times ? We blame them for taking bribes.
Many of them are stationed outside Mantriji's bungalows , I have often wondered why aren't private security guards hired ? Some states like Maharastra and Delhi have 16-17 hour shifts , add to that the commuting time from their homes with no over time pay. They hardly get any family time, miss out on all festivals and functions and am sure their time at home must be spent catching up on sleep.
Next time a cop stops you to remind you to wear your seat belt / helmet /mask ,remember it is for your own safety , something you should have done on your own. Instead of being rude to him or trying to dodge him , try following the rules before you hit the road. Offer him a bottle of cold water if you have one , buy him a cup of chai, or just be nice and follow the rules.
I bought a bag full of bananas and gave it to the cops. Surprised at the gesture, they thanked me. I got back home and made chilled lemonade ,went back with bottles of it and distributed it to the cops and all the fruit sellers sitting there.
Remember ,these are our front line of defense workers.On duty on the streets , rains or the scorching heat ,tirelessly working ,exposed to risks and a classic case of khaki slavery.They get paid for it you say, you'll be surprised at the meager amount they get for the number of hours they work.
90% of the police staff work 12-14 hour shifts ,sometimes 17-20 during festivals, baands, curfews,elections, VIP visits and now the lockdown. They are fatigued, tired , overworked and suffer from job related health issues. Most of the stations work with only 40% of the required staff because not enough cops are hired to keep up with the growing population,resulting in long hours of work and tired and irritated cops.
Their duty entails everything from maintaining law and order, being called for emergencies at odd hours, making arrangements for our VIP's , apart from their daily work load and giving us crash courses on driving rules. All this with only a lathi in hand.
A visit to any police station will show you the sad conditions they work in.I remember a visit to the karaswada police station a few months back to file a complaint ,the sight was pitiable to say the least.Uncomfortable plastic chairs, bare minimum stationery, not enough light, seepage ,damp walls and cops who looked over worked and exhausted. These conditions affect their health, the young cop whom I interacted with had a cold which he said he got every couple of months due to lack of ventilation and damp walls.Have seen so many cops suffer from varicose vein problems due to long hours of standing, burnt out skin due to direct exposure to the sun ,acidity due to irregular eating habits and lack of fluids in their system and am sure many more.
They are expected to do 12-14 hours duty during bandobast duties to cater to VIP visits , ever wondered if they could afford meals from restaurants during these times ? We blame them for taking bribes.
Many of them are stationed outside Mantriji's bungalows , I have often wondered why aren't private security guards hired ? Some states like Maharastra and Delhi have 16-17 hour shifts , add to that the commuting time from their homes with no over time pay. They hardly get any family time, miss out on all festivals and functions and am sure their time at home must be spent catching up on sleep.
Next time a cop stops you to remind you to wear your seat belt / helmet /mask ,remember it is for your own safety , something you should have done on your own. Instead of being rude to him or trying to dodge him , try following the rules before you hit the road. Offer him a bottle of cold water if you have one , buy him a cup of chai, or just be nice and follow the rules.
~ Kiraan Thakur.
