PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
A measure taken by the district administration for the security of citizens, especially women, has failed to achieve its intended objective, as the pink booth in Paltan Bazaar has turned into a veritable garbage dump. The women who throng the market look dismayed with the absence of police personnel at the booth as assured earlier. This has now become a crude mockery of its objective: runs the common refrain of frustration among them.
It is pertinent to mention that the pink booth was set up in Paltan Bazaar, the heart of the city, under the directives of the district magistrate, Savin Bansal. It was intended to enhance women’s safety in the bustling market area. However, soon enough, the booth was reduced to a dumping ground for garbage.
A woman resident of Dehradun, Sapna Sehgal said that the contrast between the booth in its miserable present state and the same when it had been set up saddened her. “It was originally set up to improve safety and security of women shoppers visiting Paltan Bazaar. I distinctly recall seeing police personnel at the booth during its initial days of operation, but that is no longer the case. I frequently visit the market and I seldom notice police presence. Consequently, the area has become littered with trash and debris,” she lamented and urged the authorities concerned to take corrective actions immediately.
“When the pink booth was set up in the market, we felt secure while walking through it for shopping purposes. Soon enough, things changed for the worse. I find no police presence whenever I visit the market. Besides, many shoppers park their vehicles around the booth at their own sweet will and worse, it is being used as a convenient place for dumping garbage,” complained another resident, Kanika Chauhan.
She added that if the authorities cannot ensure proper operation of the booth, it should be removed. “It is instead aggravating traffic congestion,” she said.
A college student, Shivani Rai echoed similar sentiments and urged the authorities to step in and act on their security concerns.
