MUMBAI, May 12: For the 47-odd children from the Nagpada and Mastan Talab slums, Monday was picnic day -- quite akin to a dream come true.

And with the police chachas from J J Marg police station encouraging them to do masti, the trip to Nature World at Mahim became even more enjoyable. This was the second picnic organised by J J Marg police station for slum children in its jurisdiction. The event was sponsored by World Wild Fund for India.

The police van left at around 10 am with the children, Assistant Inspector Nazir Inamdar, the police chacha and Suraiya Hamid, social worker and principal of Anjuman D Ed college, Mahim.

``It was a mixed crowd, comprising Hindu and Muslim children from the age group of nine to 15. They started having fun the moment the van left the police station ,'' said API Inamdar.

For nine-year-old Shabina Sheikh, it was her first picnic and also her first visit to a park.

Omprakash Singh, 12, said the picnic turned out to be an opportunity to make friends. On 13-year-old Salim Sheikh's mind, the picnic made a deep impact: he lost the fear of the police. ``I thought the police always beat people and abuse them. But now I like the police chacha very much,'' said a delighted Salim. Senior Inspector Nagnath Askulkar looks at it in a different way. ``I take it as an opportunity to serve the society. These children hardly get any such experience. What's more, we get to interact with their parents, which helps us a lot in our work,'' he said.

The police intend to have more such picnics in the future. Next on the cards is a visit to the Nehru Planetorium. ``We plan to show them all such places and maintain the practice. I am sure they will remember it throughout their lives,'' said Askulkar even as he bid good-bye to the jubilant children.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.