CAR FESTIVAL PLANNING HAS TO CHANGE FOR MASS SAFETY !

The BJP has been facing bitter  criticism for its poor administrative management since assuming power.  Opposition voices and the social media describe the administration as chaotic mainly due to declining law and order situation as high-profile incidents of violence, and perceived governance failures have been in news. Several social media posts have highlighted concerns about a ‘Jungle Raj’ citing incidents like the brutal assault of a senior officer in Bhubaneswar and a stampede in Puri during the Rath Yatra as evidences of administrative lapses. The government has failed to curb crimes, particularly against women, with claims of 1,600 cases including 54 gang rapes, in the first eight months of BJP rule. So far, no clear economic or industrial development roadmap has been shared publicly. Investors are reportedly unsure about the new regime’s ease-of-doing-business policy.

Mohan Majhi is a simple, noble soul who claims to have fulfilled half of the 21 election promises within the first year. Apart from the CM's grievance ‘durbars', the BJP administration has undertaken serious district-level reviews to improve service delivery and project implementation. It is quite likely that the detractors have purposefully looked away from Majhi’s true achievements.

The Puri Car festival is a very big event for Hindus across the world. Lord Jagannatha is the heart and soul of Odias too. Every important Odia occasion is based on the Jagannatha culture which has became massively popular across the globe. The British government of yore had recognised two religious festivals as national events : the ‘Kumbh Mela' and the Car festival at Puri where central security forces are deployed to maintain law and order and ensure every pilgrim is safe and happy.

The least apprehended stampede on the second night of the car festival this year has left people shocked to the core as it happened not in the limited interiors of the temple, but in the vast open exterior. Without doubt, security lapses due to faulty planning and management by all concerned did result in the mishap. But strangely, the administration was rash in laying the blame squarely on the heads of the district collector and the SP who were dislodged without even being heard. That the new twosome will give miracles the next time, is difficult to predict as several factors beyond the control of the two district chiefs cause disasters.

Both the central and the state governments have to wake up to ground realities of the huge population growth and the ease of reaching Puri on important events. The small town does also attract countless non-Hindu tourists as it is one of the best beach locations in the world.

 It is high time the state administration discouraged people from thronging to Puri as crowded events are likely to be dangerously life-threatening. Puri is a small town and the Car festival happens on a limited 3 km stretch of road the containing capacity of which can never exceed two and a half lakh people at a time. Out of these at least thirty thousand human beings crowd around individual ‘Raths' or chariots when they are being pulled. There is no mechanism in sight as yet to keep the chariot pullers safe from being trampled in case of chaotic circumstances occurring all on a sudden.

Unfortunately, the state administration consumes so much of invaluable time on preparation exercises as to enrage sane citizens no end because most of the meetings are routine in nature and they unnecessarily include headless servitors and individuals who have nothing to contribute. So only select administrators and security masters may plan management of chaotic crowds and exigencies.

The foremost thing the state government needs to do is discourage people to crowd out at Puri during the overhyped festival, which not only inconveniences lakhs of people including the local residents but also turns the town hell by strewn heaps of garbage- mainly singleuse plastic all over the place that may cause spread of epidemics. Besides, the Puri Car Festival is actually meant for those devotees who are not permitted to enter the temple as clearly mentioned in the popular religious books.

So, quite much in advance, the state administration must put in place an online registration system on which desirous visitors can avail entry on a ‘first come-first serve' basis. Once the list hits 2.5 lakhs, the rest be told to kindly remain safe at home and watch the spectacle on television or smart phones. The arrogant publicity of big number of trains and buses and planes having been put to service for the festival be never done as the containing capacity of ‘Puri Grand Road' will never exceed 3 lakh heads at the same time. The duly registered individuals can be scrutinised at all entry points and let in. The unruly adventurers will be sent back so ferociously as never to dare take risks ever again.

Most importantly, the VIP culture must come to an end. So called biggies including ministers, bureaucrats,  judges and other public authorities are given cordon passes beyond the manageable number. Each chariot has a safety zone marked by a rope cordon, which can accommodate a maximum number of 150 individuals to ensure safety of all. The administration is forced by populist political creatures to  issue thousands of such passes, which causes life-threatening inconvenience. Such nonsensical acts do not happen at any mosque, church or Gurudwar in the world. At any shrine, particularly in a secular country like India, no one should be treated as a special being, no matter how rich or powerful one is. All the so-called VIPs have to take the same route as commoners to maintain peace and order.

The whole idea might appear a weird one to many. But that alone will keep everyone safe and sound apart from bringing laurels to the Majhi administration now being slammed for silly errors. The Odisha administration must learn lessons from the ‘Kumbh Mela' stampede mishaps despite the festival area having been spread across 30 kms along the river bank and the religious act being limited to a single dip in the river water.

Odisha is fortunate to have a honest, simple chief minister. But because of his simplicity, lack of experience, and lax public behaviour, the big rumour making rounds now is that ‘while Odisha keeps craving for good governance, CM Majhi is busy chasing good meals. He seems more focused on his plate than the people’s pain. He is not probably aware that leadership isn’t about appetite, it’s about accountability. He has to devote some time to learning skills of statecraft.

Noble-minded CM Majhi will excel only if he  implements the workable ideas put forth by his learned advisors on all critical matters of public interest. Hopefully, he is listening to the enviably experienced advisors around him.