.
. YESTERDAY-TODAY
-TOMORROW
SILVER
JUBILEE OF RLSSI-19 AUG 23
25 years ago, Starting with swimming pools for the training of lifeguards, the very call for life-saving took RLSSI to waterfronts, saving accident victims and to road safety. Two proverbs describe their
journey of 25 years. “No gain without pain” is the first that comes to mind.
The second is “paddle your own canoe.” It is significant that it was in this
period many NGOs, backed by resources from overseas -funding support were
thriving, but it was difficult for an honest NGO to survive. That situation has
changed now.
So, when Admiral and Mrs. Kavita Sharma asked me to
speak today, I opted to look at yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This is a
narrative to put in perspective the journey of RLSSI while India grew.
But first a couple of disclosures. We are related.
That too due to a tenure in Pakistan. They briefed us having preceded us in
that assignment. The children met much
later but we lived in a house called Anchorage in the heart of Islamabad.
Needless to say, it was hired by His Excellency. Why do I call him HE? That is the second disclosure. after his son
a distinguished naval officer, married my daughter, in 1997, I was given a
choice of addressing Adm Sharma as Purushottam. “Sir,” was easier as he was
about 13 courses senior to me. But I made my choice. 'Excellency', I thought was
better, until he upstaged me by addressing me as Lordship. And so, we have
found a modus vivendi in all these 26 years. I call him HE and he calls me
Lordship. I hasten to add that my comments today on RLSSI are from an
outsider’s perspective and not as an insider. So if I have my knickers twisted
a bit as I prod along it is because I merely watched them grow.
Now coming to the subject at hand., Let me use
my observations to exemplify my findings. Looking back, at three assignments i.e.
ACNS IWOPS for 3 years, Commandant NDA, and CinC Southern Naval Command, I was concerned
to see a large number of urgent requests channelized through MOD for rescue
operations in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Lifesaving and more often
recovering bodies were the objective. Aid to civil authorities has a structured
methodology for deploying military personnel for which payment is also mandated
for the logistics. However, Local pressure often resulted in political pressure
for expeditious deployment. Quite simply put the laid down procedures for providing
assistance were often compromised to the detriment of our carefully programmed
peace-time training schedules. Emergencies such as disaster relief, and
unforeseen major accidents were attended to without awaiting MOD clearance.
Kerala in
particular has numerous water bodies, rivers, and backwater settlements. During
monsoons, accidents occurred regularly despite swimming being a widespread
skill. Since there was no formal training for life saving at any level both
knowledge and equipment were non-existent. Thanks to the interaction with the
then CM Ommen Chandy, I was able to convince him that requesting the navy for
assistance was not the most expedient measure for routine waterfront accidents
and that setting up training facilities at the village and district level would
yield the desired results. I believe that suggestion was well taken and later
when they heard about RLSSI, perhaps Kerala was better prepared to understand
the value of training for life-saving skills as a whole.
Since some
of us were born before independence we were able to understand why safety in
all walks of life and lifesaving perse were not priority areas for the people.
Poverty was widespread. The basic needs of roti, kapda and makan were the issues
of concern. Tens of thousands died of starvation and malnutrition and lack of
basic health infrastructure. Salaries were low and just trying to live was a
battle. Hence death was dealt with as destiny. Thanks to rituals and faith in temples,
churches, Gurudwaras and Mosques loss of life to accidents perse assumed lesser
importance. It was accepted as an act of God.
. So what
was the reason to be philosophical about death and lifesaving mechanisms?
The economy plays an important role in the quality of life and the ability to invest in safety-related activities and the accompanying legislative /regulatory structures depend
on priorities of the day. Gradually when yesterday merged into today we witnessed the slow transformation in
the form of quality control, awareness of safety standards, etc. From narrow
roads connecting villages and cities, we have now reached international standards of roads.
From not seeing a car or bus for miles on intercity roads to crowded and
polluting vehicular traffic. From swimming in open water bodies and seas to the proliferation of swimming pools including large societies with private swimming
pools.
But demography has an equal role to play. The
sheer growth of population from 340 million in1947 to 140 crores today,
virtually nullifies the remarkable achievements in various sectors of life. Of course, the poor rate of GDP growth due to policies of yore accentuated the problem.
Let me explain. Right from motor vehicles to building construction or even
sports, safety took a back seat. A good example is the abdominal guard in
cricket came decades before the helmet. Perhaps the family jewels needed to be
protected even at the cost of cracking the head. I need say no more.
Even as the quality of life improved and the GDP grew to its present 3 trillion dollars,
the demographic growth profile of an uncontrolled population ensured that our
per capita GDP remains low as compared to developed countries. Why am I telling
you this? It is because priority for issues like safety standards depends on
this very factor of affordability. Just to give you an authentic figure,
India’s per capita income,i.e.Total income of the country divided by its population
multiplied by 100 is about 2400 $. The USA, which is not the highest, is more than
64000$. Quite simply put the per capita GDP impacts the quality of life which includes
food, housing, transportation, education and health care. Regulatory and
legislative measures happen only with economic growth. So demography and
economic growth are intertwined.
what are you
getting at, you may ask. Let us talk of life-saving on roads. Gadkari, who has
the most impressive record for building highways, as per Morgan Stanley, has
increased highway building from 25700 km in 2004 to 53700 km in 2023. What
does that mean? Accidents on these wonderfully built express and highways may
continue to increase. Why? violation of
lane driving, non-adherence to speed limits, and lack of quality checks on
heavy carriers coupled with the questionable issue of driving licenses, bogus
medical certificates and poor literacy must be resolved at the State level.
Loss of lives
in traffic accidents is more than deaths caused by all diseases and wars. Currently,
it is 18 deaths per hour. Should he stop building roads? Of course not. Good
roads are essential for the rapid growth of the economy. India aspires to be the 3rd
highest economy by 2027.
Paradoxically,
our city traffic is choked, potholed and filled with “near miss” situations. In
aviation, it means anyone who observes a violation of established norms of
operation and/or maintenance can post a message. That perhaps is to achieve the
highest standards of safety. Excellency is aware of this. His generation caused
enough safety violations in their younger days of fighter flying. Low flying
over urban areas to impress their girlfriends and returning to base with
antenna wires entangled with the fuselage of the aircraft was considered macho.
Look at flight safety records now. Training, education, penalties for violations
and strict adherence to mental and physical conditioning have all played a
role. RLSS aims to bring in this very culture for life-saving.
Look at us
on the roads. You see two-wheelers, four-wheelers, auto rickshaws, carts and
cyclists jostling for space. To this add the intrepid pedestrian crossing at
will by just challenging you to hit him. In a short journey, you may have 20
near misses every single day.
The good news is
that more modern cars are on the road, legal and legislative processes are getting
approved at a snail's pace and accidents in cities are quite under control not
because we are learning but because you cannot drive at speeds more than 30 km or
10 when bumper to bumper. So, what was Gadkari’s advice to our political
leadership when he inaugurated the new NDA circle? He asked that the growth of Pune
should be stopped due to population and pollution. In the meanwhile, our youth
is desirous of buying Lamborghini or
Ferrari to go from 0 to 100 kmph in 3 sec. Life is full of paradoxes around the
globe.
Given all these
paradoxes and challenges with the citizens getting richer by the day, not
willing to contribute meaningfully to improve safety standards on the road or
water, and the Govt’s inability to legislate laws that states need to implement
but won’t, I see a great opportunity for RLSS to grow rapidly in the next 25
years.
And so, what
could RLSSI do for tomorrow? Here are some thoughts from the top of my head.:
· While pursuing state-level
participation to fulfill your dream to reach out to the next Million, shift
focus to tier 2, tier 3 and smaller cities before they become Pune.
· Continue your thrust to bring in as
many schools and colleges into your fold for training.
· Pursue inclusion of life-saving
drills in the national/state education curriculum. Translate existing documents
in regional languages using available software.
· Include lifesaving drills for Expressways and National highways.
· All modern highways have helo
evacuation facilities. RLSSI could contribute by conducting training for the smooth
evacuation of victims from accident sites.
Continue and
expand association with developed nations for training and competitive sports.
Use social
media for reaching out to remote corners of India both for inviting trainees
and updating information to increase your reach.
Improve the
governance structures of RLSSI and make them amenable to quick decision-making,
accounting, and auditing of an expanded RLSSI
Prepare documentation to seek funding under social corporate
responsibility keeping in view that SME/MSME/STARTUPS are your potential
funders and not large corporate bodies.
Crowdsourcing of funds is an attractive option to fund an expanding RLSSI.
Thank you all for your patient hearing.
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