A police officer’s anguish. From childhood, awareness about responsibilities and rights should be created and taught. On the occasion of International Education Day with greetings the authorities are urged to think about this. If the three lions symbolize law, righteousness and justice, then the invisible fourth lion is the police – this powerful movie dialogue reflects real life, where society often fails to see how much hardship police endure while working for the public. We have seen and continue to see how police, holding batons and blowing whistles, work day and night for public welfare.
But strangely in recent times, the baton has disappeared from police hands and mobile phone cameras have taken its place. It is deeply painful to see traffic police abandoning traffic control duties and turning into photographers. It is hard to understand which law instructs traffic police to perform photography duties instead of traffic control. When a police friend shared his pain saying that while they already suffer health problems by working under the scorching sun, drenching rain, biting cold and heavy pollution, being burdened further with photography duties is extremely distressing it truly felt heartbreaking.
The suffering of lower level police personnel is indescribable. Setting daily targets for taking a certain number of photos has made photography the primary duty, sidelining actual traffic control. If they fail to meet photo targets, they are subjected to humiliation before senior officers and colleagues. Unable to swallow the humiliation or spit it out, they continue working under pressure. As a result, traffic duty itself has become something police dread. Respected senior police officers, please think about and discuss this issue seriously. Continuously educate the public, students and youth about traffic problems. Organizing awareness programs two or three times a month can yield better results. Teach traffic laws, rights and responsibilities compulsorily from childhood, in schools and as part of the curriculum. Please do your part to bring about such change. Remember the saying, ‘If a sapling does not bend, will a tree bend later..??’ Create awareness and we sincerely hope that someday or after some time a day will come when traffic police no longer have cameras in their hands.