Meet Indores Granny traffic warden

You are unlikely to miss eighty-year-old Nirmala Devi of Indore. For the past 25 years she has volunteered to be a traffic-controller and is affectionately called Nani Maa (maternal grandma) by drivers and other passer-by.

By Rajni Khaitan

Indore, Sep.12 : You are unlikely to miss eighty-year-old Nirmala Devi of Indore. For the past 25 years she has volunteered to be a traffic-controller and is affectionately called "Nani Maa" (maternal grandma) by drivers and other passer-by.

Attending to her duty as a Traffic Warden on special duty at M.G.Road near Gandhi Hall here, Nirmala doesn't hesitate chasing down to catch any traffic violator by the collar. She can be tough, but most of the time she acts granny and counsels wrongdoers.

"She has a great zeal for work. We all call her "Naani Maa". We have been watching her handling the traffic perfectly for the past so many years," said Kamlesh Verma, a driver.

Nirmala says: "Everyone fondly addresses me "Naani Maa" (the Nanny). The drivers of the 300 city buses that run in the city are familiar to me. They are always ready to help me whenever I need their help at any hour of the day."

After spending a hectic day, she returns hitch-hikes home . as she doesn't have any scooter or motorbike!

Born in a poor family of Indore, Nirmala lived a life fit enough to be a plot for any Bollywood film.

She was married into a well-off family, but faced separation after some years.

Nirmala Devi left for Mumbai and took up a small job as a junior artiste in films. But she had to leave the job as her daughter was being made fun of by her friends.

For some time, she used to deliver parcels on bicycle that earned her rupees 700 a month. She also took up volunteering for traffic police in Mumbai.

She claims to have saved the loco of Flying Rani from exploding in 1975 and also saved nearly 100 children from the debris of shattered building at Churchgate in Mumbai.

Nirmala was in Delhi as a Congress Party worker when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

Later, she returned to her hometown Indore and took up voluntary work.

Impressed with Nirmala's dedication to work and track record, the then Commissioner of Traffic Police Dr. Paseja in Indore had designated her Traffic Warden.

"Today, I am happy being the traffic warden and it all happened due to Dr Paseja. He advised me to leave politics and take up this job. I am happy today doing it," said Nirmala.

Her children and brothers are all well-settled now. And, Nirmala is happy and satisfied in directing vehicles at the crossroads.

ANI