Forgotten, Indore’s first female Traffic Warden Nirmala Pathak needs help! Here is the whole story of a real-life Savior!

Indore’s first female Traffic Warden Nirmala Pathak is now bedridden with Paralysis at the age of 93, needs help and support, both emotionally and financially.

Is serving for the city selflessly for the sake of society a curse for future? Does social working have no future aspect? Does our system have no medical care plans for its elder and the most deserving citizens?

Traffic has seen a terrific rise in the city. Active transportation is a major driving factor in the continuous growth of the country in the developing phases. To keep the traffic active at intense areas, traffic wardens were also essentially required apart from the traffic police, they came into existence as social volunteers. They were purposely not paid much but they do so as a social service and to feel the sheer pride of helping others with wearing a uniform as well.

They are paid for their uniform and transportation and don’t get any regulatory rights or special powers that Traffic inspectors may have. These people invest their valuable time serving the nation selflessly as a volunteer at the areas where traffic is intense and obstructive, they cannot find violators, and instead, they humbly advise them to follow the protocols. They also visit schools and teach children about road discipline. They tell them about traffic signals, Zebra Crossings, wearing helmets and using seat belts. Changes may not be obvious overnight but they stay confident that change will occur on our roads in some years when these children will grow up and become responsible road users.

One of the significant volunteer’s whose sacrifices should be given a separate page in history is Nirmala Pathak, who had spent more than 70 years of her life serving in dissipating traffic as the first female traffic warden of India at the most required areas in cities –Bombay (of that time) and Indore. She had also driven a rescue operation on her own aftermath some of the deadliest disasters like the flood in Morbi, Gujarat after the Machchhu dam collapse which occurred on 11 August 1979 and recovered over a dozen of dead bodies. She had also proven humanity when Mumbai faced terror bombings by running rescue operations dating long back in time.

While handling traffic, she had a damp wooden stick in her hand to scold anyone who constantly offends and violates rules, but everyone started favoring her and appreciated her efforts, dedication towards service, later everyone started taking her scolding as a blessing. She never got afraid to stop anyone violating traffic rules, whether powerful politicians, government officials (as she had also stopped District Collector once), etc.

In her lifetime she had been decorated with many achievements and awards, she had also met various political and Bollywood personalities and had handled various political events as well. She was doing fine till the age of 92, but then a tragic tragedy happened that should not be happening for such a kindhearted lady. She fell straight to the floor of the bathroom, so badly that she got paralyzed for the whole right of her body.

The iron lady with a heart of gold, who has set a bar for selflessness and bravery, must be given special care in her most critical and needed times. No doubt. She doesn’t have a family of her own, no children to take care of her in this elderly age of 93. Her younger sister Usha who is a nurse by profession in Pune and has a family of her own, left her job to take care of her, but 9 months have passed and now she has been also running out of finance, which is a serious issue as money is the ultimate survival source these days.

In the initial days, everyone visited her but now, everyone forgot that she exists, it’s the worst thing about happenings, that she became history over the course of time and the memories fade away with time. She can’t live alone, she asks every day that does anyone visited to check out that is she alive or not? Elder individuals are just like kids, having pure souls, they need special care, attention, and love.

Mother Warden does not ask much to you, but as of a social cause we should contribute for her wellness till she is fighting for her life, she only requires some monetary help to run her daily living, their daily luxuries only include a bit of grocery, milk, curd and minimal roughage items as food, Adult Dipars as she cannot move off her bed to visit the toilet and Dipars needs to be changed every time, cleaning items like Dettol and all, and a few more things that are so small to mention.

You can support Team Indore Talk initiative ‘Indore for Mother Warden’ by making Donation via PAYtm on our number 9009048480.

Such people are an inspiration for the society and today’s children must know her story of sacrifice and selflessness, she had dedicated her life for we people and we should do help her in the possible way we can.

“The best inspirations can be found at the feet of the most elders, they have lived the life and experiences that we are now at.”

Thank you Mother Warden Nirmala Ji, we respect you and will never forget your efforts.