Any Takers for Responsibility? Accountability?

 

ANY TAKERS FOR RESPONSIBILITY? ACCOUNTABILITY?

Two very unfortunate events, over two consecutive days in different parts of the world involving heavy loss of life have starkly highlighted the general attitude of the government towards public safety and loss of life.

The first instance happened in Itaewon district of Seoul the capital of South Korea on the 29^th of October. There was a stampede in a lane where revellers had gathered to celebrate. 156 people lost their lives and 152 have been reported to be injured. Within three days, the Prime Minister of South Korea had admitted lapses on part of the government and assured the citizens of preventive action. The Chief of Police of Seoul has very categorically accepted that the police failed to appreciate the consequences of the large crowd gathering in a narrow lane and hence did not take timely action for crowd control. The Chief of Police is owning responsibility for failing to take adequate and timely action.

The second disaster happened on 30^th October in Morbi, Gujarat. Nearly 135 people died in a suspension bridge collapse. A bridge which was designed to hold maximum 125 persons had over 500 persons at one time. That combined with lapses in maintenance led to this catastrophe. The government of Gujarat has issued routine statements and seven low level employees have been taken into custody. The sense of moral responsibility is singularly absent.

It is extremely unfortunate that the government agencies in our country seldom take responsibility for accidents in public spaces. Till the time we start taking institutional responsibility for such mishaps, accidents will continue to happen, and precious lives will continue to be lost.

As citizens of a free nation celebrating its 75 years of independence, is it too much to ask for the government machinery to start taking ownership in such instances. Notice the absolute apathy of the local administration in floods that besieged the streets of Bengaluru or portions of newly constructed highways collapsing near Mandideep in Bhopal or on the Bundelkhand Expressway during monsoons this year. The government officials responsible for monitoring the quality of work should be held accountable. Even the senior officers and people representatives heading the ministries should feel the accountability. One is reminded of Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning as the railway minister taking moral responsibility when a train accident had taken place in his tenure.

It is indeed disheartening to see the wide gap between the responsiveness and sense of accountability of government officials in our country and South Korea. As the citizen of a nation with a glorious past, is it too much to expect government officials and people representatives to be true to the nation and the people who have put their faith in the system.