This traffic cop signals compassion

Rajkot: Parents often demonize policemen to rein in their mischievous kids or to teach them discipline.
But children are not scared of meeting J B Gadhvi, the assistant commissioner of police in the city traffic branch!. In fact, children, especially those underprivileged living in the slums, eagerly wait for their doting ‘uncle’ to arrive and shower his affection.
Gadhvi, 56, who has recently been posted in Rajkot from Junagadh, is on a mission to bring smiles on the faces of poor children whose parents struggle to get two square meals a day.
After a hectic day of duty, this cop sets out every evening in slum areas and takes children to a restaurant or a larri where he treats them to khaman, bhajiyas, jalebis, and other delicacies which are out of bound for these poor kids.
After having a stomachful, the children extract a promise from Gadhvi for his next visit.
Gadhvi visits areas like Kothariya Road, Aji Dam, Lodhika, Vad Vajdi, Chunar Bhatthi, University Road, Sat Hanuman etc where the population of slum dwellers is significant.
“I don’t run any voluntary organization, but I want to do something for society on my own. There are many influential people with whom I come in contact because of my profession. I request them to donate to this noble cause and insist that they donate directly without my mediation.”
Gadhvi’s benevolence doesn’t end with feeding. In this bone-chilling winter, he distributes blankets in all these areas among needy people. In December alone, he distributed around 400 blankets.
Gadhvi has carried forward this activity from Keshod in Junagadh. One day, he had also taken slum children there to Sakkarbaug Zoo to show them wildlife.