Around 30,000 Calcutta police personnel got a text message from chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday afternoon announcing the arrival of the Covid vaccine that they would get free, being frontline workers.
Around the same time, emails went out to all police stations congratulating the force for working for the people as “Covid warriors” and saying that the vaccine would reach them soon.
The text message in Bengali said: “Covid-19 er mokabilaye ekjon Covid joddha hishebe aapni jebhabe manush-er paashe theke tader sheba korechhen, takey samman janiye, agradhikar bhittite, paschimbanga sarkar-er torof theke sampurno binamulle apnaar kachhe Covid-19 er vaccine jotha shomoy pouchhe jaabe (In the fight against Covid-10, the way you have stood by the common people and served them as a Covid warrior is commendable. As a mark of respect for your service, the Covid-19 vaccine will reach you in due course of time absolutely free of cost on behalf of the Bengal government).”
The message concluded by wishing the well-being of the recipients’ families. “Aapni o apnaar paribar sab samay bhalo thakun, sustho thakun (We wish that you and your family stay happy and healthy).”
From the police commissioner to the constables, sources said the message was sent to every personnel around 12.30pm on Saturday.
Although the role of the police has been appreciated by the average Calcuttan several times in the past 10 months and some have been felicitated by the state government on Red Road, this was the first time the whole force received official recognition for its services, one officer said.
Several officers The Telegraph spoke to could not help but express their excitement on getting recognition from the state through individual text messages.
“We lost so many colleagues in this battle. Many, including myself, rejoined duty after getting infected and recovering. Many police officers have been felicitated and praised. But to get this official recognition as a frontline Covid warrior from the chief minister is very special,” said an inspector.
Unlike the health department workers who wear PPEs because they are in direct contact with suspected Covid patients, cops are exposed to people they may be prosecuting or requesting to stay indoors without knowing who could be a carrier of the virus.
During the lockdown months, when most Calcuttans were forced to stay indoors, the city police became a lifeline for many. They ensured people stranded in their homes could get emergency supplies.
Mamata had felicitated frontline workers, including several police personnel, on Red Road last year.
Based on the state health department’s instructions, all police personnel in the city police force have been asked to submit their details — name, age, address, family members — so that the data can be compiled and used during vaccination, senior officers said.
“When the pandemic broke out, our families panicked too. I had spent months living inside the police station without meeting my family just to keep them safe. Receiving a text message like this felt like a great honour today. We all were pleasantly surprised when our phones buzzed almost at the same time at the police station,” said an officer posted in the south division.
