Odd-even implementation: No policing, AAP volunteers to do Gandhigiri with red roses

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party volunteers won’t interfere with the police’s work during the implementation of the odd-even formula, they would do ‘Gandhigiri’ instead to impress upon vehicle owners to fall in line. The formula comes into effect on 1 January 2016 and will be in place for a fortnight.

The volunteers will offer red roses to those found violating the formula, which according to the Delhi government will keep 8.8 million vehicles off the roads and reduce vehicular pollution by half till 15 January 2016, thereby reducing the overall pollution levels in the city.

The party has begun registering 10,000 volunteers who will be trained to help the city’s traffic police to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme. So far, if party’s insiders are to be believed, 3,000 volunteers have already been registered for the job. A total of 200 volunteers will be deployed along with traffic cops in each assembly segment of the city at all check posts, entry and exit points and at places where traffic halts for sometimes because of red lights.

“The registration process is going on. The minimum eligibility criteria is 12th pass and the minimum height should be 5 feet 6 inches. They will have no legal rights to stop any vehicle plying on the road and issue challans. What they will do is to assist the Delhi Police to ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme for which they a will be paid a nominal amount of Rs 300 per day,” a party functionary told Firstpost.

Asked if they don’t stop the vehicles, then what will they do, the answer was, “….Gandhigiri.”

“They will stand at traffic halts and offer roses to those found violating the scheme. They will make them understand the impact of pollution on them and their children and the importance of the visionary formula of the Delhi government which is going to be implemented on a trial basis. Delhi is the most polluted city in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, 20 million population of the city is exposed to more than 153 micrograms per cubic metre of 2.5 particulate matter every day. It is around 15 times higher than what is desirable,” he said.

The entire exercise will be overseen by Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai and Rohtas Nagar MLA Sarita Singh, who is also parliamentary secretary to minister of employment.

“The party is training its 70 workers who will be sent to all constituencies to coordinate 200 volunteers being registered in each Vidhan Sabha. The recruits will report to the designated in charge in every assembly segment,” he said assuring commuters that “there is no need to worry as there will be no chaos as being propagated by the detractors”.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi has announced that they would enforce the odd-even formula in the national capital and requested the city government to ask its volunteers to assist the Delhi Police and act as directed.

“All volunteers will have to report to the Delhi Police, which will brief and deploy them according to an action plan. Our objective is not to harass anyone,” he told Firstpost.

“We expect from the AAP volunteers to follow the idea of rule of law along with vigilantism,” he said.

Those who are found violating the odd-even scheme would be slapped a penalty of Rs 2,000. VIPs, women drivers, CNG-certified vehicles, two-wheelers and those carrying the differently-abled are among the 25 categories which will be exempted from the scheme.