2 in 3 citizens surveyed say VIP culture is not reducing in India: Visible in Government offices, on Roads, Hospitals, Places of Worship, Public Events and many more places

November 18, 2024, New Delhi: 10 newborns lost their lives in Jhansi on Friday due to a hospital fire and 16 children are battling for life. While the parents of these deceased children were collecting the dead bodies, videos surfaced of workers marking roads for VVIP visit of a minister coming to the hospital. This pretty much defines the VIP culture of India.

The Supreme Court plans to examine a writ petition during the week of December 9th, challenging the imposition of ‘VIP entry charges’ at major temples across India. The PIL stated that the practice of charging fees for expedited or preferential darshan of deities discriminates against the economically disadvantaged devotees, violating Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to dignity), according to the New Indian Express newspaper. The petition has argued that temples across the country are increasingly charging fees, ranging Rs 400-5,000, to facilitate quicker access for those who can afford the charges, while ordinary devotees, often indigent and travelling long distances, face significant delays in darshan. Such devotees include senior citizens, women, children and persons with disabilities. The plea argued that “such fees might infringe upon the constitutional rights to equality, dignity, and religious freedom.” The Madras High Court is reported to have dealt with the issue earlier but did not go into the question of whether this is discriminatory, violative of Article 14.

Unfortunately, VIP culture seems all pervasive. The newspapers often report of teenage running over pedestrians or being involved in hit and run cases but managing to successfully evade any punishment due to money clout or political/ bureaucratic connections. It is rare in India for ministers, bureaucrats, and their kins not to take advantage of their position to seek special privileges. ​ Reports of politicians, officials and their family members misusing their position and power abound. Last year, an IAS and IPS couple posted in Madhya Pradesh were in the spotlight for misusing the services of 56 cops and government employees to look after their children and household work. From hospitals to roads, airports, schools and colleges, places of worship to even jails, there seems to be no place where VIPs, barring some exceptions, are not enjoying special privileges. Taking advantage of this culture, even the kith and kin and close associates of VIPs are not above taking special privileges as seen at the Delhi airport amidst the persisting chaos leading to fliers facing all kinds of harassment and delays.

In May 2017 when after three years of citizens campaign led by LocalCircles, the privilege of having red beacons on the cars of VIPs including the prime minister, the president or chief justice of India was removed and it was retained only for emergency/ critical services vehicles, there was optimism that VIP culture would be phased out. Seven years later, a new LocalCircles survey has revealed that VIP culture persists despite the central government having taken measures to reduce this unfair practice.

At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the premier government hospital in the national capital, for instance, private rooms are reserved for VIPs where they can get admitted even for mild illnesses. Many other privileges for VIPs at AIIMS, going by citizens’ complaints and facilities at the hospital, include special registration counters and out of turn appointments for politicians, bureaucrats and “influential” individuals and their family members for treatment including surgery and critical care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, across the country people experienced the adverse impact of the VIP culture when influential people and their family members were given preferential treatment when it came to allotment of ICU beds, oxygen, medicines, and even vaccines.

Taking cognizance of the issues related to VIP culture being reported every week on LocalCircles, the platform conducted an extensive survey to understand citizens’ pulse on the prevailing VIP culture across the country in public places. The survey received over 45,000 responses from citizens residing in 362 districts of India. 65% respondents were men while 35% respondents were women. 48% respondents were from tier 1, 24% from tier 2 and 28% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

64% citizens surveyed believe that VIP culture is not reducing in India

The persistent VIP culture can be a nuisance and even lead to denial or delay in services in government establishments. The first question in the survey asked citizens, “Based on what you have experienced and observed, how do you feel VIP culture has changed in India in the last 3 years?” In response, 46% said “it is intact and very much there”, 14% said “it has increased significantly”, and 4% said “it has increased somewhat”. Breaking down the poll, 26% said “it has reduced somewhat”, 9% said “it has reduced significantly”, while 1% gave no clear response. Of the total 8,881 responses received to this question, only 35% of citizens indicated that VIP culture has reduced in India while 64% believe it has continued to persist in the last three years.

Citizens on various social community platforms have also reported how in government offices VIPs get easy access to officials, are able to shorten the time taken to get a grievance redressed or get required clearance while others struggle to get their work done. What is shameful is that when visiting government offices citizens are handicapped by having to use non-functional or leaky lavatories while the clean facilities are locked for use only by senior officials, which is a clear display of affluent culture.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier issued an order directing all airlines in India to ensure compliance with protocols to Members of Parliament at airports, indicating that VIP culture remains firmly in place. The situation is unlike in most OECD countries where ministers and bureaucrats carry their own bags, occasionally ride a bike to office and even wait in the queue like other citizens. Meanwhile, in India, long traffic jams for hours at a stretch are a daily affair just to facilitate the travel of VIPs. The same scenario can be seen across the country while traveling on road, by trains or flights, etc.

91% of those who have commuted or traveled by road say VIP culture can be easily observed

Delay in reaching your destination, even a hospital in time to get vital medical attention, is often reported. The survey question to understand where citizens’ have experienced or observed such VIP culture in the last 3 years revealed 27% at “(1) Roads and tolls”, and 5% said “(3) Airports and flights”. Breakdown of the poll data shows 3% of citizens experienced it on “Trains and stations”, along with option “1”. There were 4% of citizens who said, “2 & 3”, and 11% said “1 & 3”. The majority or 50% of citizens said all “1, 2 & 3” places. On an aggregate basis, the findings indicate that 91% of citizens who have commuted or traveled by road say VIP culture can be easily observed. This question in the survey received 8,383 responses.

If responses given by citizens are evaluated in the order of priority about where they have most observed VIP culture in the last 3 years, 91% said “Roads and tolls”, 70% said “Airports and flights”, and 57% said “Trains and stations”.

83% of those who have been to Government offices say they are ridden with VIP culture

The next question tried to understand citizens’ experience or observance of VIP culture in different places in the last 3 years. In response, 11% said “government offices”, 7% said “public and private events”, another 7% said “religious places”, 9% said “government offices” and “public and private events”, 3% said “public and private events” and “religious places”, 3% said “government offices and religious places”. The majority or 60% of citizens voted for all three from the options. On an aggregate basis, 83% of those who have been to Government offices say they are ridden with VIP culture. This question in the survey received 7,943 responses with many selecting more than one option.

Similarly, if responses are put in the order of priority given their observation of VIP culture across places in the last 3 years, 83% said “government offices”, 79% said “public and private events”, and 73% said “religious places”.

1 in 4 citizens say they experienced VIP culture at hospital(s) they visited in the last one year

Coming back to the healthcare scenario, the survey asked, “Did you experience VIP culture at the hospitals that you visited for yourself or family in the last one year” to which 66% responded in negative stating “did not experience any VIP culture at hospitals I visited”. Out of 9,755 responses to this query, 12% however stated “yes, in all my visits”; another 12% indicated “yes, in one of my visits”; and 10% gave no clear response. In all one in four respondents or their family members did notice instance of VIP bias in hospitals.

Citizens say encroaching public property and violating society/ colony norms are top activities that VIPs in their area engage in

Besides hospitals and government offices, there are many other instances where VIP culture is predominant. Probing this aspect, the survey asked, “In the last 3 years, what are some of the other inappropriate activities that you have seen VIPs in your area doing” to which 48% pointed to “encroaching on public property”. Out of 10,563 respondents to this query, many opted for more than one choice to indicate misuse of clout / bribery by people with power backed with money. Thus, 39% pointed to another property related trespass of violating society/ colony related norms; 26% complained about noise pollution by “creating ruckus in the neighbourhood where they reside/ own a property”; 26% pointed to “collecting extortion money from businesses or individuals”; 22% pointed to “using position to get school admissions/other government approvals done in exchange for payments/ bribes”; 26% indicated “creating and/or using NGOs to siphon funds”; 26% to “influencing government transfers/ postings in exchange for payments/ bribes”; 26% “other inappropriate activities”; and 13% gave no clear indications. To sum up, citizens say encroaching public property and violating society/ colony norms are top activities that VIPs in their area engage in.

In summary, the survey clearly establishes that according to citizens of India, the VIP culture is still rampant in the country. Only 35% of citizens surveyed believe that VIP culture has reduced in India in the last 3 years. This seems particularly true of government offices, with the majority or 83% of citizens indicating that they are ridden with VIP culture. Further, 91% of those who have commuted or traveled by road say VIP culture can be easily observed en route. The survey results make it clear that lot more needs to be done to completely eradicate VIP culture as it works against the interests of the common man. The government has the option and ability to take strong steps to control this menace as this culture continues to flourish under its patronage – both political and bureaucratic. In a country where inequality is already evident and growing, the use of VIP culture not only creates a feeling of discrimination but also puts undue burden on the common man, often depriving them of their basic rights including quality healthcare and education.

Citizens on the LocalCircles platform have suggested some measures which could result in major reduction in VIP culture. This includes removal of the word VIP from entrances, no VIP darshan at temples, reducing access to VIP or emergency quota in railways, penalties if any flight/train delays occur due to VIPs, no free travel for kins of VIPs, banning VIP stickers on cars, reduction in the number of people getting VIP security and abolishing VIP passes for public events to name a few. Elimination of VIP culture may be difficult but a check on this unhealthy and undemocratic practice is desirable. Exceptions do exist. President Droupadi Murmu, who during her Odisha visit in 2022 walked two-kms to pay obeisance at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, greeting people lined along the way. Also, last Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has been spotted at various airports carrying his own hand luggage with no fuss. Hope more VIPs emulate these examples of being down-to earth and one with people whether in a place of worship or airport or when availing any government service.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 45,000 responses from citizens residing in 362 districts of India. 65% respondents were men while 35% respondents were women. 48% respondents were from tier 1, 24% from tier 2 and 28% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform, and all participants are validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.