COVID-19 vaccine programme: Maharashtra Security Force personnel upset over being ignored

Maharashtra Security Force jawans with cops at a railway station. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

As the COVID-19 vaccine programme expands its coverage in the city, hundreds of traffic wardens and jawans from the Maharashtra Security Force are upset at being ignored for the protective shots. They say they are not being considered as frontline workers despite having risked their lives when the COVID-19 outbreak was at its peak in Mumbai. There are 750 traffic wardens and 10,000 MSF personnel deployed across the metropolis.

Maharashtra Security Force jawans man several important establishments across Mumbai

The government has engaged wardens to maintain traffic on city roads. The workers have been appointed by private companies and are trained by the traffic department. These wardens have worked with traffic cops through the pandemic so far.

Fifty-five-year-old Satyawan Khanvilkar, posted at Mulund Check Naka, told mid-day, "We were not at home for the whole pandemic, we never back stepped in testing times. Cops are now getting vaccinated, but we have been left out. We expected we would have some chance."

A 38-year-old warden posted at Chedda Nagar shared his frustration. "Many of us got infected, but still we worked. We don't have any medical backup, we thought the traffic police would move a proposal for our health cover but it never happened," he said requesting anonymity.

The Maharashtra Security Force, which was formed after the 26/11 terrorist attack, has its personnel posted at major BMC hospitals and several important establishments. But from day one, its jawans are struggling for medical and other welfare benefits.

Traffic wardens have been roped in to maintain smooth flow of vehicles on city roads

As he stood guard at a Metro station, a 39-year-old jawan told mid-day, "We have been given the post of special police officers but never got any benefits of the same. We had expected we would get the vaccine along with police officers, but we were not considered this time either. Two of our jawans died of COVID and many were infected. It's sad that we haven't been considered by our own officials for vaccination."

A 25-year-old woman officer said, "We don't understand why we are being treated as common people. We, too, want the vaccine but we don't know when we are going to get it. Looks like our department does not even bother about us," she added. Joint commissioner of traffic and MSF chief remained unavailable even after repeated attempts.