Tackling errant auto and taxi drivers refusing to ply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The public transport service is for the benefit of the people, this aspect is totally lost sight of by regulatory authorities and the service provider unions. Though periodic crackdowns  by the traffic police and the RTO against errant taxi and rickshaw drivers who refuse to ply are commendable and a step in the right direction, a more holistic approach is required to solve this issue effectively. We do endorse the present action however, it is important to have a balanced view in the interest of public and the people who are affected and connected to the service

Our suggestion is as under

1. The taxis and rickshaws should never refuse
2. Authorities need to be very strict against offenders
3. Providing each vehicle (taxis and auto rickshaws) an identification card mentioning the working time and lunch/break times explicitly. This card should always be present in the vehicle.
4. It is equally important that specific regulations are framed for compliance taking care of all the stakeholders.

We are taking up the issue with the government authorities and the service provider unions directly and also shall request media to help create awareness and pressure on the authorities.
We look forward to your suggestion and support to take up better governance for stopping such incidents.

You can send your suggestions to info@theroadtochange.org.in or provide them in this google form https://docs.google.com/a/theroadtochange.org.in/forms/d/1yB1jHwcdYuMUcCBn7si2XWucaDYRm9AeGb7o4_aknxI/viewform

Better governance needed to stop stampedes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The incident where 113 have been dead and over 100 injured owing to a stampede at a temple in Madhya Pradesh, is not one such rare incident as the citizens of India helplessly face such losses many times all over the country.

During the last 20 years stampedes have taken place at Jodhpur (2008-249 dead), Ujjain (1996–39 dead), Delhi (1997–59 dead), Chennai (2005–50 dead), Nagpur (1994–114 dead), Satara (2005–300 dead), Bilaspur (2008–162 dead), Deoghar: Jharkhand (2012-12 dead), Kunda: Uttar Pradesh (2010–63+dead), Kumbh mela (2011–36 dead) Kumbakonam (1992–50 dead), Sabarimala (2011–106 dead) and yet we remain heavily and shockingly under-prepared for such situations.

Poor governance, lack of concern from government authorities and dismal crowd flow management are to be blamed for all such instances. But the majority of the concerned citizens, as the affected party every time, have been indifferent towards such issues and have failed to force the government to undertake and implement stringent measures to check and avoid the same.  As victims, it is completely futile to wait for the government to take action on their own and establish a reliable system to prevent such incidents owing to their history of inaction and apathy towards the masses. It has become extremely necessary that the concerned citizens force the government and authorities involved through our collective and persistent efforts to bring much needed changes into the system. It is about time constructive steps are taken to establish a system in place that should include these critical measures:

• Listing all shrines and dates on which large number of devotees are expected
• Release a standard crowd management procedure and policy at the central and state level
• Assign the responsibilities for implementing and executing the same to local authorities and taking stern action on failure to do so
• Specify the administrative and resource support to be provided to such authorities
• Ensure effective and continuous supervision of such activities
• One of the central/state ministries should be in charge and made accountable

These measures are just initial recommendations; we need you, as our supporters to give suggestions. Collective and persistent efforts are required to make sure that Sunday’s stampede remains the last such incident.

We are taking up this issue with the central and state governments directly and also shall request media to help create awareness and pressure on the authorities. We look forward to your suggestions and support to take up better governance for stopping such incidents.