It takes a death to realise how tough their job is...

It takes a death to realise how tough their job is...

Sohini Dey

Posted online: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 0149 hrs IST

kolkata, April 22
“The first packets of glucose meant for traffic constables on duty were distributed only after one of them had dropped dead under the scorching sun at Manicktala today,” said a traffic constable who was on duty near Raj Bhavan.

Unwilling to reveal his name, the constable confided how “only about 200 to 300 grams of glucose powder has been distributed for each person today” and they have no idea as to when they will get their next packet of glucose.

There were scores of other constables who alleged that the special summer ‘kit’ provided to them for combating the weather often fell far short of the requirements.

The Tuesday’s death of one traffic policemen forced the top brass of the Kolkata police to announce curtailing the duty hours of constables by two hours.

Senior traffic department officials however claimed that sufficient facilities are provided to those on duty to cope with the ever increasing temperatures.

They said that the traffic control duty is divided into three shifts.

On an average one traffic constable is given duty for seven to eight hours.

However, those having their duty scheduled in the morning and afternoon tend to suffer the most, as temperatures in the city are crossing the 40-degree Celsius mark.

“There are arrangements of water for each person on duty, with umbrellas and sunglasses being given to them. Beside an unlimited quantity of glucose is given so that no officer collapses from fatigue,” said an official from the East Traffic Guard.

“A constable who has done a strenuous shift on a particular day is given a respite on the following day either in terms of the area he is posted in, or in terms of the working hours,” said a sergeant.

The traffic constables, however, hardly share this view.

“Last year, umbrellas had been provided to traffic constables. These were supposed to be of superior quality. But most of these broke within a few days of use. We are also given a few amenities, but they are not always useful,” said a traffic constable near Park Circus.

Similarly, sunglasses and masks were also distributed last year, but they broke within a few months. There have been no replacements since then, they said.

The woes of the constables do not end here.

In this scorching heat, they are forced to wear woollen kneecaps, as it form a part of every traffic policeman’s uniform. To get them removed a state directive must be passed. Earlier, Rs 100 was deducted from the salary of every policemen for mediclaim policies.

Traffic constables, however, alleged that the deductions have been increased to Rs 150 without any prior notification and they are not given any vouchers for it. In addition, the mediclaim is applicable in only a few hospitals and the reimbursements take almost eight to nine months.

In addition to this, a medical check up for constables was scheduled for April 18, but no doctor turned up. While traffic constables are at least given some amenities to deal with the summer months, the home guards get a harder deal.

Often seen wearing their khaki uniforms, these workers are paid on a daily wage basis, irrespective of their experience on the job.

“Besides the uniform, I have not been given any other amenities. Once in a while, I get a packet of glucose but I have never been given umbrellas or sunglasses,” said a home guard stationed at Park Circus, who has been doing this work from the last two decades.

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It takes a death to realise how tough their job is... Sohini Dey Posted online: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 0149 hrs IST kolkata, April 22 “The first packets of glucose meant for traffic constables on duty were distributed only after one of them had dropped dead under the scorching sun at Manicktala today,” said a traffic constable who was on duty near Raj Bhavan. Unwilling to reveal his name, the constable confided how “only about 200 to 300 grams of glucose powder has been distributed for each person today” and they have no idea as to when they will get their next packet of glucose. There were scores of other constables who alleged that the special summer ‘kit’ provided to them for combating the weather often fell far short of the requirements. The Tuesday’s death of one traffic policemen forced the top brass of the Kolkata police to announce curtailing the duty hours of constables by two hours. Senior traffic department officials however claimed that sufficient facilities are provided to those on duty to cope with the ever increasing temperatures. They said that the traffic control duty is divided into three shifts. On an average one traffic constable is given duty for seven to eight hours. However, those having their duty scheduled in the morning and afternoon tend to suffer the most, as temperatures in the city are crossing the 40-degree Celsius mark. “There are arrangements of water for each person on duty, with umbrellas and sunglasses being given to them. Beside an unlimited quantity of glucose is given so that no officer collapses from fatigue,” said an official from the East Traffic Guard. “A constable who has done a strenuous shift on a particular day is given a respite on the following day either in terms of the area he is posted in, or in terms of the working hours,” said a sergeant. The traffic constables, however, hardly share this view. “Last year, umbrellas had been provided to traffic constables. These were supposed to be of superior quality. But most of these broke within a few days of use. We are also given a few amenities, but they are not always useful,” said a traffic constable near Park Circus. Similarly, sunglasses and masks were also distributed last year, but they broke within a few months. There have been no replacements since then, they said. The woes of the constables do not end here. In this scorching heat, they are forced to wear woollen kneecaps, as it form a part of every traffic policeman’s uniform. To get them removed a state directive must be passed. Earlier, Rs 100 was deducted from the salary of every policemen for mediclaim policies. Traffic constables, however, alleged that the deductions have been increased to Rs 150 without any prior notification and they are not given any vouchers for it. In addition, the mediclaim is applicable in only a few hospitals and the reimbursements take almost eight to nine months. In addition to this, a medical check up for constables was scheduled for April 18, but no doctor turned up. While traffic constables are at least given some amenities to deal with the summer months, the home guards get a harder deal. Often seen wearing their khaki uniforms, these workers are paid on a daily wage basis, irrespective of their experience on the job. “Besides the uniform, I have not been given any other amenities. Once in a while, I get a packet of glucose but I have never been given umbrellas or sunglasses,” said a home guard stationed at Park Circus, who has been doing this work from the last two decades.