It is heart-breaking how our society tends to assign the primary responsibility of taking care of a child to the mother. And, many times, women have left no choice but to juggle between parenting responsibilities and their work, sometimes in a dangerous way.
Recently, a video of a female traffic constable carrying her five-month-old baby during duty in Chandigarh surfaced on social media. This video shot in Chandigarh went viral in no time. Post which, the investigation was initiated to understand the reasons why a woman made such a risky decision to bring her five-month-old baby to duty.
Chandigarh Police Constable Priyanka Controlling the traffic with her baby in her arms at Sector 23-24 Intersection.
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) March 5, 2021
Hats off to the Spirit ???? @ssptfcchd pic.twitter.com/UoRGbH5d8q
???????????????????????????????????? https://t.co/EW0Ukjuepl
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 6, 2021
According to The Indian Express, it was found during the investigation that the female constable, Priyanka, recently got off of 6-month long maternity leave. While sharing her helpless condition, she revealed how there was nobody to take care of her son while she is on duty. She said:
“There is no one at home to look after my son who was born prematurely. My husband and in-laws are in Mahendragarh. I joined my duty four days ago. For the first two days, I was given duties near my residence after my request to do so. On Friday, my duty point- the Sector 15/23 roundabout, was very far away from my residence. I got late and received a call from the Traffic Police Lines, Sector 29. Duty is first for me, but I also cannot ignore my child. So, I took my child to Traffic Lines and later went to the duty point,”
Now on her request, she has been assigned a lighter duty. As per SSP Manisha Chaudhury,
“A cop performing her duty keeping her child in her lap is not acceptable,”
During the investigation, it was also revealed that a male constable urged Priyanka to go back home with her child but she insisted on working. Later, on the orders of a senior traffic cop, she went back home.
While many netizens glorified the woman for juggling both work and parental responsibilities, there were few who highlighted that instead of celebrating women like her, authorities should consider making their lives easier. Many suggested free day-care for children of cops, reports News18.
Oh bullshit! Please. This woman should have access to a crèche and proper child care while she is on duty. Her State Govt should be ashamed for not providing it. Don’t glorify helplessness & exploitation. It forces women to subject themselves & their kids to such dangers. https://t.co/BvPMnyMEok
— Mona Ambegaonkar (@MonaAmbegaonkar) March 6, 2021
98 year old man sells chana, we praise
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) March 6, 2021
A traffic constable works with her baby in arms, we appreciate
An IAS brings her 14 day old baby to work, we applaud
Making a virtue of our failings to provide for senior citizens, facilities for working mothers has become an art.Must stop.
Chandigarh Police @DgpChdPolice should rather inquire why did she have to bring the baby on duty under such harsh & dangerous circumstances. This is not matter of “spirit” but shame that we can’t provide child care facilities to our men and women on duty. https://t.co/eNhaauTu79
— Yo Yo Funny Singh (@moronhumor) March 6, 2021
This trend of taking small babies to duty place need to be discouraged. Traffic duty while holding the child may look good on social media but its clearly unsafe for the child.
— Arun Bothra (@arunbothra) March 6, 2021
Police in every state has large number of women personnel now. We need crèches. Not this bravado. https://t.co/5cF0C8Bu5W
Sorry but this is a misplaced sense of duty. A baby in the arms of a traffic policewoman in the middle of busy traffic is bad and irresponsible parenting. It’s dangerous!
— Junaid Azim Mattu (@Junaid_Mattu) March 6, 2021
There should be complimentary daycare for children by the departments. That should be the goal. Not this. https://t.co/4MocRENObu
Do let us know what you think!
