Addressing VIP Culture in India - Addl Inputs

Dear Friends:

Below is a summary of Key Solutions, Root Causes and Issues as identified by you to address the problem of VIP culture in India.

Kindly review them and help identify more specific solutions if possible.

We will then submit the comprehensive whitepaper to PMO, Central Government Leaders and State Governments and hope to see some concrete action on this front.

I look forward to your inputs!
Rajendra Pratap Gupta
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Addressing VIP Culture in India


VIP culture in India – Solutions

1. Except for the President, Prime Minister, Governors and Chief Ministers of states, armed forces service chiefs, no one should be granted VIP status
2. Use of the red and blue beacons should be restricted
3. Roads should not be closed for more than 10 minutes for a VIP movement
4. The international travel plans of the VIPs should be scrutinized
5. Family members of VIPs should not be allowed on official tours with them
6. The VIP quota in Railways should be trimmed and should be usable only in case of emergency
7. The idolising of bureaucrats and ministers should be stopped
8. Government should not try to satisfy the ego of the VIPs by giving them these privileges; it should be based on needs
9. Some privileges should be withdrawn for the VIP culture to diminish
10. The darshan procedure religious places should be equal for everyone

VIP culture in India – Root Causes

1. VIP culture is a status symbol for people in India
2. In India, a lot many works can get easier if you are/you know a VIP
3. VIP culture is an age old tradition to separate the rich and the famous from the common public
4. It is believed that the time of the VIPs is more precious that a non-VIP
5. VIP influence can actually make your life in India much easier
6. No government crackdown on illegal red/blue beacons
7. Businesses fear future Governmental hurdles if favours are not passed on to VIPs
8. VIPs misuse the advantages offered to them by the Government
9. A lot of privileges are given to the VIPs by the government just to satisfy their ego and status
10. VIPs don’t have anything to fear as police and law both are in their pockets
11. There is a big racket of selling VIP quota tickets running, cuts from which are passed on to the VIPs as well

VIP Culture in India – Issues

1. VIPs are given special preference at religious places for darshan
2. A common practice by the elected representatives is that the roads and public parks around their residence becomes their personal properties to the extent that they lock the public park denying access by children to play in them
3. VIPs have separate entrances at events whereas the general public has to wait in long lines
4. When VIPs travel, the entire road where ever they go is kept free without any signals. This results in traffic jam and common people getting late for their personal work or official work
5. People take advantage of their VIP contacts to get their work done in all fields
6. Even a distant relative of a Panchayat member feels he/she is a VIP
7. VIPs travel and have a good time using taxpayers money
8. The drivers and associates of VIPs misbehave with others and expect favours like they are VIPs too
9. VIPs go for medical treatment abroad when the best hospitals are very much here
10. VIPs and their family members don’t pay toll tax
11. Family members accompany them on foreign tours
12. A big security contingent moves around with the VIPs on taxpayer’s money
13. Cars with red/blue beacons cause trouble to others
14. VIPs have reserved seats in Railways whereas a common man suffers
15. VIPs don’t turn up at the airport on time and force the airlines to delay flights more