Unpopular opinion: VVIPs visiting sites of accidents and natural disasters is counterproductive. It looks good on cameras but it actually hurts relief and rescue.
VVIP visits distract officials, who, instead of doing relief and rescue, have to:
- Take care of VVIP security and protocol.
- Worry about making a good impression and convey that nothing was their fault.
- Manage the media circus.
Relief and rescue is like performing surgery — it is an intricate job to be done with full focus and concentration.
If VVIPs want to help, here is what they should do:
- Not visit the disaster sites. If necessary, go to the local control room and review things at a high level. Also, to manage the media, tell them “We are not going to the site to avoid disturbing the professionals but we are working on it 24×7.”
- Direct all departments to provide all necessary resources. E.g., rescue equipment, medical equipment, and doctors, etc. Where necessary, bring them from other locations.
- Be transparent. Tell the truth — don’t sugarcoat things.
- Don’t let bureaucratic red tape come in the way.
- Let the professionals do their jobs — be it the NDRF, police, fire force, army/navy, or district administration. Ask questions of them, but don’t second guess them and give gyaan.
- Release necessary funds.
The only people at the disaster site should be professionals involved in the rescue.
– Rajan