Traffic awareness meet sees stand-up comedy, music; SSP claims ‘no one interested in lecture’

Says it’s easier to address a captive audience by showing videos and distributing pamphlets on road safety

Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans performing during concluding day of Road Safety Week organised by Chandigarh Traffic Police at St Stephen’s school in sector 45 of Chandigarh on Friday, January 17 2014. Express photo by Sumit Malhotra

The traffic awareness week observed by the Chandigarh Police from January 11 to 17 witnessed a host of activities with no connection to creating awareness about traffic rules. Throughout the week, a variety of events were held including performances by an Indian Idol singer, a stand-up comedian and Sufi singer, Hans Raj Hans, performing for VIPs and members of welfare associations.

Terming a mere lecture on traffic awareness ‘boring’ the Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic and Security) Maneesh Chaudhry said, “No one will be interested in coming and listening to a lecture on road safety. These artists were called so that they can attract an audience and once the audience is in the auditorium, we can show them videos and distribute pamphlets on traffic awareness. It is easier to address a captive audience.”

Only invited guests, police officers and their families, the administrative officers and mediapersons of the city were allowed inside the event venues.

When asked the reason for not organising the traffic awareness programmes in an open venue instead of an auditorium, SSP Chaudhry said, “For an open event, the security measure had to be elaborate. There we had to ensure the security of the artist who is performing and all the dignitaries who come to attend the event. We had called the members of resident welfare association, market associations, senior citizen association etc and they were given booklets at the beginning of the show. Once the audience have it in their hands, they will at least look at it once.”

On January 14, an Indian Idol singer and a stand-up comedian performed in the presence of UT Advisor K K Sharma, District and Sessions judge S K Aggarwal, former DIG of UT Police Alok Kumar, IG RP Upadhyay and other top officers.

Over 500 people were invited for the cultural night, including traffic marshals, police officers and their families and members of welfare associations.

On January 17, UT Home Secretary, Anil Kumar, and his family were guests of honour along with Satya Gopal, Chairman of Chandigarh Housing Board, for the Sufi night where singer Hans Raj Hans performed. Along with the two IAS officers, 800 people, including families of police officers, traffic marshals and welfare associations, attended the event.

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A two-day sports meet for the police officers was also organised as a part of the Traffic Awareness Week, which was inaugurated by former finance secretary V K Singh.

Schoolchildren were invited for a giddha and bhangra performance and a skit on road safety was staged only after the students left.

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