SERVE AND SALUTE

Giving each police station in Mumbai an oximeter

- BOB RUPANI

Every year in August, OVERDRIVE sets out with Audi for the IQD (Independence Quattro Drive) to celebrate our Independence Day and honour and salute our brave soldiers posted on our far-flung borders. But this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was not possible. While the pandemic may have completely changed things and disrupted the way we live, we did not want to change our tradition of recognising the bravery and sacrifice of our brave warriors.

While our valiant armed forces defend our borders, the police are responsible for maintenance of law and order. The citizens and nation turn to the police force in the hour of need, danger, crisis and difficulty and their numerous duties also include protection of life, liberty, property, etc. But with the emergence of the Coronavirus, without any warning or training, the police in our country were tasked to play a completely different role. They had to man the streets to enforce a lockdown, ensure people maintain social distancing, follow sanitisation and hygiene, and wear masks and what not.

In this battle against COVID-19, the police have worked tirelessly to keep us safe from the virus. They have been standing shoulder to shoulder with all the other frontline workers like medical personnel and doctors, testing and nursing staff, the municipal corporations and so many other such people and organisations, all trying to limit the infection from spreading.