Concerns of smooth traffic in capital has only increased in last couple of months as poor health profile of traffic officials indicates that a large number of officials suffer from impairments that directly affects functioning that requires to be on the job beyond the usual duty hours.
The health profile of traffic officials prepared by a non-governmental organization Empower Jharkhand corroborates earlier findings and reaffirmed the assumption regarding poor health of people are controlling movement of vehicles.
“I will look into it and will see what can be done from our level and from the government side. I have also asked the NGO to come forward with suggestion regarding what can be done and in which manner,” said SP Traffic, Manoj Ratan Chothe.
The profile has been prepared on six parameters -- ENT, dental, Spirometry, Ortho, blood sugar, blood pressure—by organizing a specialized mega health camp for traffic officials and a report was submitted to the Traffic SP to take initiatives to improve health conditions of the officials. Notwithstanding the health concerns respite from stressful duty hours is not in sight.
Although the absence of the adequate work force is been seen as one of the cause the stressful work culture and would only aggravate the problem due to lack of clarity on increasing man power for the traffic police. Yet, like all predecessors, top cops claim that efforts are being made in addressing the problem while keeping in mind the requirements of maintaining law and order in the city.
“The problem with Ranchi police is that we are running short of forces. Forces cannot be spared beyond a limit as law and order besides crime detection is also important for us. Somewhere the duty hours is short but at some places it is very long. We will try to strike equilibrium in deployment,” Chothe said.
Smoking, standing for long hours and improper shoes are some of the reasons that were mentioned in the report to be posing serious health issues for the traffic officials. However, no time frame has been fixed to address the health concerns.