Lack of sponsors hits awareness drive

The BDDS has only one bomb suit — as highlighted by The Indian Express last week — but officials maintain they are well-equipped. “We are well-equipped to deal with bomb threats, but it cannot be contested that prevention is the best cure. If citizens are made aware of some simple things they overlook, our job will be reduced significantly,” said the squad’s police inspector D Jagdale. “A few months ago, we had approached Tendulkar requesting him to make sketches that can immediately catch one’s attention and convey the message,” said Jagdale.

Four sets of the posters have been sent to the BDDS in Mumbai and Thane, a training institute in Chennai and Pune. One depicts an old man walking on his hands aboard a bus, the amused looks of his fellow passengers and a bomb ticking away beneath one of the seats. The message in Marathi that accompanies the picture says, “You may laugh at this gentleman but he certainly saved lives — his own and those of people who laughed at him. Be cautious when you travel.”

Another poster shows a bird and a snail burrowed into its shell with an accompanying message: “Even a snail is safe if it follows safety rules.” There are other cartoons on similar themes like “Be alert, stay safe”; “Don’t be tempted to touch deserted vehicles”; and “Help one another and have courage when calamity strikes”.

“If these posters are put up in public places like bus stands and railway stations, we are confident that the message will be absorbed by most citizens. For the past three months, we have been approaching several agencies but no one has volunteered to sponsor the drive. The only time we were able to display these posters was during the lectures on safety that we conduct or as part of Tendulkar’s cartoon exhibitions,” said Jagdale.