VIP culture will never end
The Union Cabinet has
decided to disallow the use of the red beacon on vehicles on India’s roads. Only
vehicles on emergency services, such as ambulances, fire trucks and police
cars, will be permitted the use of a blue-coloured beacon.
Thus the Central and
State governments lose the power to nominate categories of persons for the
red-beacon distinction. This is a good beginning.
Red beacons was a symbol
of India’s VIP culture, publicly enforcing a
subject-ruler separation. Those with
red beacon would escape getting frisked at the security gate at an airport and
get freer pass at the toll-gate on a highway, getting a bed at a state hospital, or a seat for one’s child in school,
to cutting the waiting time for, say, a passport or an Aadhaar identity proof.
To be, or to know,
‘somebody’ is far too often perceived as a requisite to get one’s work done. The
state needs to stop protecting MPs who indulge in “don’t
you know who I am” bullying.
While the curbs on
beacons by political leaders may be a positive step, there are other important VIP
culture that needs to be addressed, specially the arrogance of leaders on any
employee in public services. Also, their excessive use of the public utility
services must be reviewed. And then what about the so
called Red Tape and actions that need to be taken against corrupt Bureaucrats
and Ministers
VIP culture is not at
ministerial or political level. It is found everywhere. Moreover, only the
beacon is gone. The culture will remain for centuries may be. You will still
see police escorts, grand receptions/welcomes, display of money power,
favouritism, someone being 'more equal' - all these are part of VIP culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment