Thirteenth batch of the recruits for Ardh Kumbh mela team were given outdoor and indoor training on Monday at PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) 41 Wing in Haridwar. As an initiative by the DIG Ardh Kumbh Mela, a new system of orientation has been started to help the police personnel interact with the people from cross-sections of the society apart from helping them to get acquainted with the topography of the district before the onset of the Ardh Kumbh Mela.
The constables, head constables and sub-inspectors who have joined their duties, meant to manage the traffic flow, have come from all the thirteen districts of Uttarakhand.
As they hail from different districts, they need to be adapted to the geography, environment and the people of the one where they would shoulder responsibility and this is the reason why the training is being imparted. “It is necessary for the new recruits to acclimatise themselves with the place of their work and this is why we have started the indoor and outdoor training programmes from this year. The training would be given to all 4500 deputed personnel,” said DIG Ardh Kumbh Mela G S Martolia.
Speaking to The Pioneer, ASP kumbh Mela Traffic, Shweta Chowbey said, “In all, 18 batches of personnel would be trained and this week, the thirteenth batch was inducted. We organised stress management programme too through yoga led by a member of Patanjali Yogpeeth on Monday morning and during the afternoon session, an outdoor training was imparted to them to familiarise them with the new spots.”
For the indoor training, some eminent people of the district from the fields of education and management have been roped in. This aside, a DSP, an inspector and training centre staff have been engaged too, said the CO Traffic Prakash Deoli.
Traffic management and security being the most challenging task during the religious congregation with the influx of pilgrims being unpredictable, route diversions are being planned, given the past experiences of the Ardh Kumbh Mela, said CO Traffic.
“On a certain day, a huge number would turn up and for some days, the turn-up would remain small. Things are unpredictable. This is why planning things based on experiences of the past much before the mega religious event commences is an imperative,” he added.