The Hindu Business Line : Trampled upon

THAT stampedes have become a regular feature in our country, particularly during religious festivals is clear, as governments pat themselves on the back when festivals pass off uneventfully. But a stampede causing the death of 42 people who were part of a huge crowd gathered to collect flood relief is shocking and reflects poorly on civil society.

As pointed out on a TV news channel, more people died trying to get relief in Chennai than in the devastation caused by the unprecedented, often incessant, rains for over ten weeks.

It is an incontrovertible fact that the government agencies do not organise themselves well in when the number of beneficiaries is large. By now, should not a well-drawn-up SOP (standard operating procedure) be in place, particularly covering public safety aspects?

Among other things that can be faulted is the prevailing culture of patronage among those who give out the tokens and relief materials. Many in the government do not think that the affected citizens are legitimately entitled to receive relief.They assume that they are the masters and what they dispense with is only dole.

That is why, almost always, few are resourceful enough to think of the simple needs of persons who gather at the relief centre, such as ropes to demarcate queues, segregated lines for women and children, and people with different abilities, notice boards indicating who will receive what and when, and keeping arm's length distance between the giver and the receiver to avoid over-crowding and consequent exasperation at the counter. The irony is that the top brass in the administration must have seen, for instance, on their many trips abroad, how orderly the boarding of aircraft is done, sequencing the disabled, women with children and according to seat numbers. People wonder why rumours have more credibility despite statements issued at the highest level, averring that in the matter of relief none will be left out. Perhaps experience with the indifferent service delivery in the past, be it the distribution of ration cards or voter ID cards or kerosene at PDS outlets, has made people wary. Moreover, since information is usually by word of mouth at the point of service and not by display through notices or via megaphones with the announcing officers having no distinguishing uniform, whispers are likely to be given more credence, particularly when the recipients are desperate to reach the counter first. On their part, no doubt, the citizens' lack of self-discipline is a major cause of such tragic events.

It is tragic to think that, even in a metropolis like Chennai, safety in public places is a matter of chance.

R. Sundaram

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