Jaago! Wake up!!!
Take a look at these two scenarios:
Place: Mumbai, Financial Hub of India.
Time of day: Evening.
Incident: Serial Blasts in commuter rail in several passenger cars.
Many commuters were killed on the spot and several, seriously injured. The Mumbai police took its own sweet time to arrive and rescue the injured. It was the local residents and good samaritans that rushed to help the victims and carried them to nearby hospitals. Taxi and autorickshaw drivers of the city also did their part by ferrying injured passengers to the hospitals. "It is my duty to serve my Gods at this hour of peril. And, I am happy to perform my duty. Moreover, the onus of bringing those who were stuck up is on us, since no trains are plying," said a taxi driver.
Place: Mumbai, Financial Hub of India.
Time of day: Evening.
Incident: Serial Blasts in commuter rail in several passenger cars.
Many commuters were killed on the spot and several, seriously injured. The Mumbai police took its own sweet time to arrive and rescue the injured. It was the local residents and good samaritans that rushed to help the victims and carried them to nearby hospitals. Taxi and autorickshaw drivers of the city also did their part by ferrying injured passengers to the hospitals. "It is my duty to serve my Gods at this hour of peril. And, I am happy to perform my duty. Moreover, the onus of bringing those who were stuck up is on us, since no trains are plying," said a taxi driver.
The police arrives after a long time, only to shove off the helpers claiming that they were there to take care of it all! WTF!!! First of all, they arrive late and have the nerve to turn down the help offered by the locals!
More painful is the fact that the bereaved relatives of the dead could not get to their beloved ones because the hospitals did not have a list of the dead!
The Indian Government is really fooling the masses by calling India a Modern Country. With the Police force following age-old rules written by the British for its own safety, the Indian State laws are nothing but archaic!!!
Wake up...change the system! The Indian state has been fooling is for the past 6 decades!
Place: New York City, Financial Hub of USA.
Time of day: Early morning.
Incident: Terrorist attacks on WTC.
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks were carried upon the United States, targetting mostly civilians. The then tallest buildings in NYC, were on fire, and falling apart with many panicked civilians trying to run out of the building for safety. The fire department arrives in no time and the brave fire-fighters enter the crumbling buildings to rescue the civilians. Many fire-fighters gave their lives to save the people. Such is the system in USA. It is definitely commendable.
More painful is the fact that the bereaved relatives of the dead could not get to their beloved ones because the hospitals did not have a list of the dead!
The Indian Government is really fooling the masses by calling India a Modern Country. With the Police force following age-old rules written by the British for its own safety, the Indian State laws are nothing but archaic!!!
Wake up...change the system! The Indian state has been fooling is for the past 6 decades!
Place: New York City, Financial Hub of USA.
Time of day: Early morning.
Incident: Terrorist attacks on WTC.
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks were carried upon the United States, targetting mostly civilians. The then tallest buildings in NYC, were on fire, and falling apart with many panicked civilians trying to run out of the building for safety. The fire department arrives in no time and the brave fire-fighters enter the crumbling buildings to rescue the civilians. Many fire-fighters gave their lives to save the people. Such is the system in USA. It is definitely commendable.
Personally, if I needed help, seeing a man in the US Police uniform would give me confidence and faith that I will be helped. Whereas, on seeing a man donning an Indian Police uniform, I would run for cover, given the fear of getting raped in the police station!
PS: These are my views of looking at the two systems. If this gives an impression that I am trashing my country because I am a US resident, Im afraid, that was not the message I intend to convey. It is very troubling to see your own people dying with no attention from the Politicians. You gotta call a spade a spade!
posted by Third Eye at 11:27 AM
What would you want to say for these two similar incidents?
Where: Southern India
When: December 2004
Tsunami waves strikes southern part of India. It almost comes as a shock with no warning (blame it on whoever you want to, but the fact is that there was no warning alarm). Strikes Tamilnadu, Kerala and Andhra among many other cities/states in other countries. Tons of lives lost, people were rendered homeless, many displaced, many without limbs, many without near and dears. State government, NGOs, kind-hearted people rush in with a huge responsibility and restores normalcy in the place - in a very short time (for a natural disaster of this magnitude).
Where: Louisiana, US
When: August 2005
What: Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina has been in the news for at least 1 week before it made a landfall. FEMA, an agency for emergency management, is aware of the consequence if a hurricane of magnitude 4/5 strikes Louisiana. Yet, no one does anything useful. Katrina does the damage. Lives are lost, properties damaged, many displaced, many without near and dears. FEMA is still planning their course of action. Katrina passes Louisana. FEMA is yet to put their plan in action. And it turns out to be the most embarassing moment for FEMA and the US government. Blame chain for the failure goes round and round, with no help to the affected people. The next hurricane season has started, yet no answer!
You know the best part of hurricane katrina? An Indian contingent was called on to help with restoring normalcy - the same contingent who managed restoring normalcy during Tsunami hit. It is a different discussion topic altogether that this was not mentioned even once in any of the news reports.
Such is the system in USA. Is this commendable?
Erstwhile WTC in NY housed offices. An employer definitely knows who is working for him to give a list of people who are dead. Don't tell me you expect a metro train driver to have a list of people traveling in his train on a particular day!
It finally boils down to the situation of the incident. Disasters like these have little to do with the government. Whatever a government does, the people expect more. Having said that, I join the billions who stand with their country and their people in such a bad time. I am not talking in favour of any government as such, but your comparison to US is definitely not a fair one!
@maverick: I totally agree with you regarding the Katrina disaster and the response by FEMA. But such kinds of neglects happen only once in a while in the US, wheras, it happens all the time in India!!! I am sure you are aware of the fact that had many people been warned that Tsumani was going to strike India, many lives could've been saved. The Govt. waited for it to come and then reacted to the whole damn thing!!!
And by the way, how long does a hospital require to make a list of the dead/admitted people?
Worse is the fact that our police system is still following the rules written by the British to save their a**es back in the 1890's!!!! heard of something called 'revising' the system?
I still stand by my country and would be most happy to see it progress and advance. But calling itself an economic threat to the other developed nations without correcting the numerous loopholes in its system is definitely BS-ing!!
Btw, who is this maverick? Ranga?
@ Chetana: Yeah, Neither am I trying to prove that US system is great nor am I trying to prove that Indian system is bad. It is just to highlight the truth about our policies and our form of Govt!!
I agree with what you said for the incidents that happenend in India. But when you took to comparing it with 9/11, I was just not able to come to terms with it. Comparing oranges with apples!
Those kinds of neglects are rare in the US of A? Ha hah! Do you ever read BBC (US version) and other 'good' newspapers? I am sure you are stuck with a bunch of jerks (read as CNN and Fox News)!
And oh, I wasnt talking on police system in India.. rather I wouldnt want to! Police system - hmm... play around with this and you will know who I am :-)
@maverick: Hmm, well maybe. these are just examples to prove the fallcies in our systems. There are exceptions everywhere! What do you have to say for the Gujarat riots in which many innocent people were killed in the name of religion? What were the politicians doing at that time?!
Well, I am not trying to say that the US 'Govt' is doing a great job. It is the dedication and sincerity shown by the people who don the attire of a policeman or a firefigher. This is something India really lacks!
Hmmmm, seeing the vocabulary and use of language, I'd strongly assume it is either Ranga or GK. !!
Dont ever talk about that! Huh. Bad vibes. That was disheartening!
Keep guessing. Do you think I am going to let you give up so easily? ;-)
@maverick: lol.. yeah, so dont chumma support the Indian govt system... ;)
hmmm, i am really curious to know who this is...someone so jobless to chat with me through my blog!!! lol..is it sevu?! this is my last try... i just give up after this!!! come on messenger..whoever it is :(((((
Well going by each topic :
Police :
There was a drunked spat between two polish guys and a turkish groups.Police came in swiftly after a phome call , resolved the fight and dropped them to their door steps .
A small car accident ( kind of stuff that happens every time in our hosur road ) , some minor paint job damaged . The police and ambulances reached the spot in no time , not one but about 4-5 of them .
I mention these two incidents to point out the responsiveness and the confidence the people have in the police .
Our police system is not entirely to blame for the negatiVe public opinion .They are just puppets in the hands of the ruling govt , if they revolt then transfer. Also the weaponary is out dated . The salary is next to nothing . Their work environment depressing .
Disaster management :
Needless to say we are a country of millions . Even today about 30% of the people dont get two meals a day. Our investment towards disaster planning is non existent. But we still do our best with the available resources .
Do you know , After the mumbai blasts people were queing outside each hospital to donate blood . Life back to normalcy the next day . Can you say the same with the tube bombings in london or the train bombings in spain ...
Well we cannot do a one to one mapping of the scenarios , since the ground realities are not the same .
Sometimes it hurts when people say , india as a third world , developing(It angers me even more when they ask me if i were pakistani). We have to build on our positives and take a leaf out of every others good book .
@anonymous: A lot of lives could've been saved during the recent Mumbai bomb blasts had the Police arrived on time.
But look at the security during a Political Rally or a Cricket match. The Policemen are present atleast 2 hours before the event, trying to provide max. security to the Poilitician or Sportsman.
It pains to know that an ordinary man's life is worthless whereas a Politician's/Film Star's/Criketers life is worth millions.
More than disaster management or anything else, it is our system's lack of attitude for the general masses which needs to be changed.
@anonymous: Thanks for taking a look at my blog. Btw, is this some one I know? please identify yourself.
Well again , A cricket match or a political rally is a pre planned event but a blast is not. I am not defending the Indian police , but the system is corrupted by politicians , region ,religion and what not .......
If you are talking about intelligence failure , you are probably right.But still it is difficult to fight an enemy without a face.
btw, this is pc.
@ Heyyy PC, good to see you around? Hmmm, yeah, I guess the system is to blame rather than the people who don the police uniform. :(
Anyway, all we can do is hope for a better system in the years to come!