Note4Students

The Union Cabinet has decided to disallow the use of the red beacon on vehicles on India’s roads. Starting May 1, only vehicles on emergency services, such as ambulances, fire trucks and police cars, will be permitted the use of a beacon from now, a blue-coloured one. For this, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989 are to be amended, so that the Central and State governments lose the power to nominate categories of persons for the red-beacon distinction.

Introduction

In 2013, a Supreme Court bench had asked the central and state government as to how they plan to remove the VIP culture. It had also directed States to amend the Motor Vehicle Rules to restrict the use of the red beacon and impose an exemplary fine on those who misused it. More than 80000 VIPs are given escort by central and state governments. So the challenge is how to stop the security of such personnel from flashing their sirens. The privileges given to MPs, MLAs, judges at various places cause a lot of trouble for public. Even these places like toll plazas and airports have list of exempted people. The President expressed his wish to not be called with various titles and the PM expressed himself as Pradhan Sevak.

Origin/Cause of VIP Culture

This was a part of the colonial hangover. In India, the beacon became a symbol of VIP and public servants who believe in the arm chair bureaucracy. It was the legacy of a mentality of those who served British Government and treated the natives as slaves. Vehicles with beacon lights have no place in a democratic country. People often find these flashing lights as an example of power and VIP status rather than security aids. Even lower-level politicians and officials misuse the beacons to show off their importance, especially in smaller towns. So, this is a welcome step by Government in order to change the culture to reduce the gap between the ruler and those being ruled. Security should be unobtrusive.

Benefits of the decision

1. It is a blow to the colonial hangover of the arm chair bureaucracy and public servants.
2. The Supreme Court in Abhay Singh v. Union of India case termed red beacons a “menace”.
3. It said, red lights symbolise power and a stark differentiation between those who are allowed to use it and those who are not.
4. A large number of those using vehicles with beacon lights really disregard ordinary citizens on the road.
5. SC also cited that the use of beacon lights on the vehicles of public representatives and civil servants has no parallel in the world democracies.
6. This will reduce the trust-deficit and gap between citizens and leaders/administrators.

What more needs to be done

1. It is a symbolic beginning of ending of the VIP culture in India.
2. We must ban the traffic diversions and road blocks when VIPs pass by.
3. Humble behaviour of leaders in western countries should be popularised in India.
4. Attitude change of the leaders is a must here. Rules cannot be made in every possible situations. Hence conscience is the real guide of a person, especially the leaders.
5. Awareness among citizens of their rights and amongst the leaders of their duties.

Conclusion

1. There should be complete rejection of VIP culture. When the ruling classes refuse to imbibe and embody the concept of political equality as a way of life, there seems to be no alternative other than forcing them to be humble before the public. All leaders and administrators should imbibe such democratic values which are the founding stones of the largest democracy. The removal of beacons is a huge democratic decision. Though the implementation will take time and at the same time awareness generation is also important. Beacon lights shouldn’t become status symbol but should be need based. The VIP culture will take time to go away from mind-set but an initiation has been made which was required for a long time.

Questions

Q.) What do you understand by VIP culture? How has it affected governance in the country? Critically analyse.

References

The Hindu

The Indian Express