Primary School Level

Points: Dress - duties - public servant - life of hardships and dangers - co-operation of the people.

The Policeman is to be seen at street corners or at the police station. He wears a khaki shirt, khaki pants and a broad leather belt with a brass plate in the centre of it.

He wears a black cap and heavy boots. He carries a baton and a whistle.

He is a guardian of law and order. He directs traffic and makes the roads safe for us. If there is a fight, he separates those who fight. He arrests those who disturb the public peace. If there is an accident, he takes down statements from eye- witnesses. He has to give evidence in a court of law. He helps to catch thieves.

The policeman faithfully serves the public. We would not feel safe or protected without him.

His life is full of danger and hardships. If there is rioting and stone-throwing, he runs the risk of getting hurt. Recently there was a case of a policeman who was killed by the people when doing his duty. When a crowd gets -violent, he has to cane-charge them or burst tear-gas shells to disperse the people. People often try to oppose him when doing his duty. Sometimes he has to raid a gambling den, or a place where illicit liquor is made. Then lawless people might attack or kill a policeman. One of his chief hardships is that he gets a very low pay. So he feels like taking bribes to add to his income.

The policeman does an important job. So we should give him all the help to do his duty well. We should respect him when he tries to maintain law and order.

The government too should understand his difficulties. It should give him a decent pay and better living conditions.

Difficult Words: Baton -a short stick; guardian-protector; traffic-cars, buses etc. eye-witnesses-those who see what happens; give evidence-tell what he knows; rioting-revolt and violence; risk-danger; recently-not long ago; cane-charge-beat with cane or baton; tear gas-shells-when these are burst tears begin to fall from people's eyes; disperse-scatter; oppose-go against; raid-have a surprise attack; gambling-den-place where people play cards for money; illicit liquor-strong drink made without the permission of the government; lawless -wild, violent; bribes-money wrongly taken just to do one's duty; maintain-keep.