Chennai Stampedes: Comment
Lacking the right framework and system in place for conducting an open written test for all freshly passed out graduates, amateur HR personnel at a leading MNC in Bangalore advertised for the same early this year. Thousands of fresh graduates queued up from the wee hours in front of the facility to ensure they are registered for the written test. Rumors spread around the facility that the eligibility for taking up the test on that day will be denied unless one is physically inside the facility before a specific time. Many young graduates tried to climb the facility compound to get inside as the gates were locked down after a couple of batches. By the time HR personnel realized the fatal error committed by them, the facility witnessed a complete chaos. A few sensible administration personnel from the company acted swiftly and rightly by coming with a clear official announcement that the written test stands cancelled on that day with immediate effect to clear off the crowd. Fortunately a major mishap was averted with a few severe injuries.
In this context, a comment on the two successive stampedes that happened in the Chennai flood relief distribution centers gains significance. After the first stampede that happened in one of the relief distribution center, the State Government underplayed it that the incident was caused by some miscreants spreading false rumors as the core reason for the mishap. Within less than a month, a second disaster far worse than the first one happened and the honorable Chief Minister reiterated the same statement again as the reason for this fresh disaster which could have been averted very easily.
If it is the quest for an elusive job in the case of written test for the crowd, it is the sheer poverty, true and desperate need in the case of relief distribution. In spite of having the knowledge of the first stampede, fellow poor citizens lined up in front of the relief distribution center late in the night braving the weather. In both the cases, it is the complete responsibility of the organizers to ensure they have a clearly defined framework and system in place to control the crowd which is expected manifestly.
Having the complete administrative power and control in hand, reiterating the same reckless statement for the second time that rumors spread by miscreants as the reason for this man-made disaster shows the attitude, negligence and arrogance of the CM towards her fellow poor citizens who voted her back to power after a terrible and miserable first term. It is ironic to note the fact that the state has an opposition leader who never shows up in legislative Assembly to which he is duly elected. The opposition party chief makes statements on television during prime time with the sole intention of making his heir as the next party leader and there by violates the basic fundaments on which his party is founded.
In the interim, the Super Star from this land (who pretended to be a prospective candidate) retracted his flashy 1996 election statement that “Only GOD can save the state from the current CM” purely for his personal reasons and survival. However the crux of the statement still remains valid as only GOD can help this state to find a fresh new leader in the upcoming 2006 General Elections. Each one of us living in the state can help the cause only by exercising the basic franchise to vote duly and there by denying a proxy vote on one’s behalf.
In this context, a comment on the two successive stampedes that happened in the Chennai flood relief distribution centers gains significance. After the first stampede that happened in one of the relief distribution center, the State Government underplayed it that the incident was caused by some miscreants spreading false rumors as the core reason for the mishap. Within less than a month, a second disaster far worse than the first one happened and the honorable Chief Minister reiterated the same statement again as the reason for this fresh disaster which could have been averted very easily.
If it is the quest for an elusive job in the case of written test for the crowd, it is the sheer poverty, true and desperate need in the case of relief distribution. In spite of having the knowledge of the first stampede, fellow poor citizens lined up in front of the relief distribution center late in the night braving the weather. In both the cases, it is the complete responsibility of the organizers to ensure they have a clearly defined framework and system in place to control the crowd which is expected manifestly.
Having the complete administrative power and control in hand, reiterating the same reckless statement for the second time that rumors spread by miscreants as the reason for this man-made disaster shows the attitude, negligence and arrogance of the CM towards her fellow poor citizens who voted her back to power after a terrible and miserable first term. It is ironic to note the fact that the state has an opposition leader who never shows up in legislative Assembly to which he is duly elected. The opposition party chief makes statements on television during prime time with the sole intention of making his heir as the next party leader and there by violates the basic fundaments on which his party is founded.
In the interim, the Super Star from this land (who pretended to be a prospective candidate) retracted his flashy 1996 election statement that “Only GOD can save the state from the current CM” purely for his personal reasons and survival. However the crux of the statement still remains valid as only GOD can help this state to find a fresh new leader in the upcoming 2006 General Elections. Each one of us living in the state can help the cause only by exercising the basic franchise to vote duly and there by denying a proxy vote on one’s behalf.
posted by Anand Gopal at 12:38 AM
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