Apart from managing the vehicular movement, traffic cops have been now entrusted with the additional responsibility of keeping an eye for unattended children on the streets. The Mumbai traffic police began the noble initiative on Monday which marked the World Day Against Child Labour.
๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ
Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police Pravin Padwal informed all traffic police chowkies about the drive through wireless communication and asked to adhere to the new instructions as part of a social responsibility towards children and society.
As per the instructions, if an unattended kid is found roaming by the on-duty officer, the traffic cop will take him to the nearest police station where the personnel will try to find out about the minor's guardians. If the efforts don't succeed, local cops will hand over the kid to a government rehabilitation centre or children home to provide them shelter and protection.
๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
A senior traffic official said, โThere are so many children on the roads, junctions, at signals; either they are begging or simply roaming around. Some are made to work. As part of social responsibility, we have initiated this drive.โ
Reacting to the initiative, some traffic cops felt that while itโs easier to check on children working at signals, nearby stalls or garages, child labour mainly happens in secluded places which are beyond their reach. โWhile on duty, we can look for children nearby and make sure they are not exploited, but in other places, I feel only the local police can do the job as they have the authority to take action,โ said a traffic cop deployed in the Sion area.
Another cop deployed at the Byculla area said, โSince itโs only the beginning of this drive, we canโt say if it will be difficult or not. Letโs see what happens, but as per our duty protocols, managing traffic is the priority. In better coordination with the local police, we can make this drive successful.โ
On the first day of the drive, local traffic cops spotted three unattended children in Bandra's Kherwadi area, who were then taken to the nearby police station. Their parents were immediately called and they assured to take better care of the kids. Hence, no case was registered.
(To receive our E-paper on WhatsApp daily, please click here.ย ย To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
