The Hindu Editorial Analysis
11 June 2025
It is profit first, life and safety second
(Source – The Hindu, National Edition – Page No. – 08)
Topic: GS Paper 2: Governance – Issues relating to accountability and transparency, GS Paper 4: Ethics – Governance, Public safety, and Human values
Context
The tragic stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on June 4, 2025, resulting in the death of 11 people during an IPL celebration, serves as a grim reminder of India’s apathy towards public safety, prioritizing economic gain and spectacle over human life.
Key Issues Highlighted in the Editorial
1. Commercialization of Public Events
- Cricket has become a profit-driven spectacle, with crowd size maximized for economic returns.
- Authorities overlook basic safety norms in the race for higher footfalls.
- VIP enclosures are prioritized while common seating areas become overcrowded and unsafe.
2. Governance Failure and Symbolic Accountability
- Permissions for such events are often granted through undue influence, ignoring rule adherence.
- The licensing process lacks rigor, and safety audits are rarely enforced.
- Officials are suspended temporarily, with no systemic reform.
3. Disregard for Human Life in Public Spaces
- Public safety is not prioritized in fairs, markets, and urban infrastructure.
- Examples include open flames at food fairs, lack of pedestrian walkways, and absence of emergency response planning.
4. Institutionalized Culture of Neglect
- People’s deaths are reduced to mere statistics, often blamed on “karma” or bad luck.
- India lacks a culture of learning from mistakes, and there’s no dedicated body to investigate stampede or public hazard-related deaths.
Key Observations from the Author
| Dimension | Observation by Sudha Ramalingam |
|---|---|
| Legal compliance | Safety rules exist but are routinely ignored or only followed on paper. |
| Public attitudes | A collective indifference toward preventable deaths in public spaces. |
| Media role | 24×7 hype and social media glorification fuel crowd frenzy and negligence. |
| Compensation | Solatiums are paltry and symbolic, revealing poor value for human life. |
Ethical Dimensions (GS 4)
- Human Dignity: Treating public lives as expendable for entertainment profits violates the core of Article 21 (Right to Life).
- Responsibility & Duty of Care: Government and organizers have a moral and constitutional duty to protect lives.
- Accountability & Justice: Institutional failures must be followed by reforms, not just administrative action.
Recommendations
1. Mandate Safety Audits for Mass Gatherings
- Independent third-party audits must be conducted before licensing large-scale events.
- Audits should cover exit routes, crowd control, fire safety, and medical preparedness.
2. Penal Provisions and Accountability
- Strict penalties for organizers who ignore safety protocols.
- Senior officials must be held accountable, not just lower-rung scapegoats.
3. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Crowd Control
- SOPs for police and event managers should be uniform across states.
- Deployment of emergency drills and rescue protocols at every event.
4. Urban Safety Infrastructure
- Build dedicated pedestrian pathways, buffer zones, and surveillance systems in major cities.
- Adopt the “Safe City” framework with crowd capacity digitization and regulation.
Conclusion
Economic ambition must not come at the cost of citizens’ lives and dignity. As the editorial rightly concludes, we must “not let commerce and gain blind us to human suffering”. It is time for India to develop a culture of safety, responsibility, and proactive governance. Every lost life is a reminder of state failure, and without reform, the cost will continue to be paid by the most vulnerable.