Jeypore: With an aim to ensure better traffic management and create awareness about rules and regulations, the Koraput Police has engaged student traffic volunteers in Jeypore town on an experimental basis.
After a 20-day training, the district police has been deploying student volunteers in phases in the town. Initially eight to ten volunteers have been engaged in traffic management work at Traffic Chhak and Parabeda Chhak. In the first phase, a total of 60 students have been selected from Bikram Deb Autonomous College and Government Women's College to work as traffic volunteers. Sources said the student volunteers will be paid Rs 100 per day for 15 days.
While the volunteers are happy and have welcomed the move by the district police, some residents of the town stated engaging educated and unemployed youths would have benefitted the needy lot.
"Following training, we have become aware of traffic rules. We believe this will lessen road accidents as well. During the daytime we work as volunteers for 2-3 hours and concentrate on study at night," said Narendra Harijan, a student traffic volunteer.
Instead of utilising college students, it would have been better if unemployed youths were roped in for traffic management, stated Debendra Adhikari, a resident of Jeypore.
Sources said, the district police will be able to bring unattended busy areas of the town under traffic control with the introduction of the student traffic volunteer scheme.
Jeypore Police Station IIC, Baleswar Giddhi said the student traffic volunteers will also create awareness about road safety and traffic rules in a better manner.
The student traffic volunteer scheme has already been introduced in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur.