Fine man

We crib about the traffic jam at rush hour, glare at the uniformed man who stops you when the VIP motorcade is passing. We find him rude ...

We crib about the traffic jam at rush hour, glare at the uniformed man who stops you when the VIP motorcade is passing. We find him rude and corrupt. But what about him? The man who is on his feet for at least eight to nine hours a day just to ensure that there is no chaos on the streets. The man who braves the sun and rain to make sure you reach your office on time?

quot;People don8217;t care too much about traffic discipline,8221; says traffic constable Ravindra Shirke. 8220;Even when we stand at the chowk and the lights flash red, people slowly edge their vehicles ahead and zoom off right under our noses. What can we do? At the most, we take down their numbers and begin the process to prosecute them.8221; But those caught are not easy to deal with either. Says Shirke, quot;If we fine lady drivers, most of the time they end up crying. Their refrain 8212; how will they explain the Rs 100 shortage to their husbands.8221; Thus, many a times, they are let off.

Scribes are another problem. 8220;When we catch them breaking a rule, they simply flash their press cards. Despite this, if we proceed with our fine, they threaten to write about it in the papers. All this in the presence of other traffic offenders, who also demand such favourable treatment.8221;

But what really annoys him is the apathy college kids display towards the law. 8220;Most of the time, they do not have a licence, or are held for rash driving. When caught, we fine them. But that does not seem to bother them in the least. The fine seems like chicken feed compared to the pocket money they get.8221;

Shirke handles all this on chowky duty. This means he has to mind the traffic at a particular chowk for eight to nine hours. 8220;Chowky duty causes a lot of back and leg aches. When I get home, I exercise to relieve the strain in the back. If it has been a particularly hard day, I dunk my legs in a bucket full of hot water. That works wonders.8221; A cop can never be sure of what to expect when he reports for work. 8220;We could be patrolling and be told that a VIP will be in town. That is when we have to leave everything and rush to our specified areas.8221; While we complain about the hold-ups when the VIPs visit the city, for the traffic cop, the jam8217; begins early.

quot;We have to report two hours before the VIP arrives and are responsible for the area. We have to check for any suspicious-looking object or people and report to the bomb squad.8221; A cop8217;s worst nightmare is when the motorcade is on its way and a passenger vehicle breaks down.

quot;We simply have to move the vehicle by any means. If the wheel is punctured or the axle is broken, we inform the cavalcade on the wireless to slow down and direct the VIP entourage around the immovable vehicle ourselves.8221; Tough job, tough life. And the uncertainty makes it even harder. 8220;You never know what will happen,8221; says Shirke. 8220;A factory worker knows what he will be doing that day, a policeman can never be sure.8221; And that can be quite stressful. No wonder then, he looks forward to his weekly off. 8220;Even the thought of the day spent with my children at home is relaxing. Then, at least, I can predict what will happen.8221;