Delhi has 24,400 kms of roads and a motor vehicle population of approximately 3.2 million. Over 500 vehicles are added to the Capital's roads every working day. With the effective meagre traffic police strength of 3,000 personnel (in a ratio of 1:8 kms of road and 1:1,066 local vehicle population), it is clear that qualitative and dedicated assistance to traffic police needs top priority.

Now, a corporate-NGO community initiative is using Generation-X to bring some order to busy traffic junctions and drill road sense into the heads of Delhi citizens. At chock-a-block intersections like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, ITO, Ashram and the Inter State Bus Terminus, college students in bright yellow jackets are helping traffic policemen book traffic violators and educate people on road sense.

The second leg of the Student Traffic Volunteers Scholarship Scheme sponsored by Shell is the brainchild of the Delhi-based Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) and the Delhi Police. ``The skewed balance of people manning the roads led to the idea of the scheme in 1995, but it reached implementation only in 1998 when Shell decided to support it,'' says Rohit Baluja, president of IRTE.

The scheme provides an effective participatory role for college students in assisting the traffic police in educating the road user and in traffic control and management.

"The students are a great help. They are assisting us with traffic management and in explaining the nuances of road regulations to the infamous Delhi driver,'' said Ajai Raj Sharma, commissioner of police, Delhi, at the launch of the second phase. Kanwaljit Deol, the Adittional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) addressed the student volunteers at the launch The first phase was launched by his predecessor V N Singh in September 1998 where 40 student volunteers were inducted. This was preceded by an advertisement in leading dailies by Shell, announcing stipends for college students of Rs 1,000 per month for a minimum of 5 hours of assistance every day.

The volunteers have to discipline passengers and buses at bus stops; park vehicles at congested and busy market areas; educate cyclists and pedestrians; provide assistance to schools in morning hours by monitoring vehicles carrying school children; help traffic police at important and busy intersections by educating the road user, and make announcements with messages of road safety at designated intersections

Shell is a company with a socially responsible heart and a commitment to support sustainable development as a part of its strategic planning and the daily conduct of its businesses. But, at the same time, the company asserts that there should not be a trade-off between profits and social commitment. ``To afford social responsibility a company has to make money, to begin with. If it is not responsible it does not deserve to make profits anyway,'' says Vikram S Mehta, chairman, Shell India Private Limited.

This is not the only cause Shell is supporting. ``We have been very active in promoting disability employment, rehabilitation of disabled individuals and promoting environmentally sustainable development,'' says Mehta. From 40 students the strength has now increased to 100 for the year 1999-2,000. ``The programme has evoked continued support from two police commissioners and state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have evinced interest in launching similar efforts,'' says Priti Devi, head of External Affairs, Shell India Private Limited.

"We want to make it into a national movement with the help of like-minded corporates who can take up the task of ensuring that the next generation of Indians grows up into responsible adults. In fact, Eicher is supporting a similar programme in Jaipur,'' she adds.

The students are instructed by the IRTE through physical and class room training to help them prepare for the task ahead. "Of the 500 applicants this year we chose 100 panelists from the IRTE and Delhi Police after interviews. The 10-day training programme teaches them traffic drill and hand signalling and practical control of traffic at intersections. Also there is class room teaching on the role of students in the community, personnel management, traffic rules and regulations, road geometric and the environment,'' says Baluja.

"At the end of the training, written, oral and field examinations were conducted. Each student also undergoes a medical test at Safdarjung Hospital,'' he adds. The next generation of citizens will inherit better road sense, one hopes.

By: Aasheesh Sharma
Date: Saturday, December 18, 1999
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/fe/daily/19991218/fco12030.html

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