... But Shouldn't VIP Culture and Government Systems Change First?

Recently, during a public meeting, Narendra Modi urged people to reduce the use of private vehicles and prefer public transport wherever possible. Discussions also happened around online schooling, hybrid office culture, work-from-home options, and even vehicle pooling wherever practical to reduce traffic, fuel usage, and pollution amid rising international tensions and pressure on global fuel markets linked to the West Asia situation involving countries like Iran and Iraq. 

The idea sounds reasonable.

But a simple question arises.

Does this appeal apply only to ordinary citizens?

Or should it also apply to ministers, VIPs, IAS officers, IPS officers, political leaders, and government departments running on taxpayer money?

A common man buys petrol from taxed income. Pays road tax. Pays GST. Pays tolls. Pays insurance. Then again he is told to reduce fuel consumption.

But how many government departments actually reduce unnecessary vehicle usage?

In almost every state one can see long VIP convoys with multiple escort vehicles, pilot cars, security vehicles, and official cars moving even for small programs. In many cases people also question whether government vehicles are used beyond official necessity. Sometimes even families of powerful officials are seen enjoying facilities funded by public money.

Then where is equality?

If the government truly wants people to trust public transport, then should not leaders themselves become the first example?

Why cannot ministers, MLAs, MPs, senior officers, and VIPs occasionally use buses, metro trains, or railways like ordinary citizens?

If public transport is good enough for citizens, should it not also be good enough for those governing them?

When a High Court Judge Can Cycle, Why Can’t Other Officials?

Recently, Justice Dwarka Dhish Bansal of the Madhya Pradesh High Court was seen cycling nearly 3 kilometers to court after the Prime Minister’s appeal for fuel conservation. The judge himself reportedly stated that if possible people should use cycles for shorter distances and help save fuel. 

What made many people appreciate this act was not merely the bicycle.

It was the message.

A High Court judge, despite holding such a respected constitutional position, chose simplicity and public example over privilege.

Then naturally another question arises.

If a High Court judge can cycle to court, then why can’t many IAS officers, IPS officers, ministers, and other senior officials use public transport or cycles at least occasionally for nearby distances?

Why should every movement require multiple cars, escorts, and fuel-consuming convoys?

Why cannot administrative culture itself change?

Leadership by example influences society far more than speeches.

If senior officials themselves start occasionally using public systems, cycles, metros, or buses, public confidence in those systems will automatically increase.

Vehicle Pooling Encouraged, But Laws and Ground Reality Say Something Else?

Another irony is that people are now encouraged to do vehicle pooling and share rides to reduce congestion and fuel usage.

But under practical ground realities and interpretation of the Motor Vehicles laws, many people fear legal complications even while sharing rides.

If a private vehicle starts regularly carrying passengers for money, it can be treated as unauthorized commercial usage without a commercial permit. Even many ordinary citizens remain confused about what exactly is legally allowed and what is not.

In some situations, even giving regular paid lifts or using a private vehicle like a cab without commercial registration can attract penalties.

Then how exactly does the government expect large-scale vehicle pooling without creating a clear, citizen-friendly legal framework?

If pooling is genuinely to be encouraged, then there must also be clarity:

• what is legal ride-sharing, 
• what is illegal commercial operation, 
• what protections exist for ordinary citizens, 
• and how genuine pooling can happen without fear of harassment or penalties. 

Otherwise one side promotes pooling while another side creates confusion through regulations and enforcement.

Government Schools: High Salaries But Falling Trust

Another important question is regarding education.

Government teachers in many states and central institutions receive very high salaries, strong job security, pensions, and benefits.

Then why do lakhs of parents still run behind private schools?

Why are middle-class and poor families paying huge fees, arranging costly transport, and sending children long distances for education?

Why do even many government employees themselves prefer private schools for their own children?

This question cannot simply be ignored.

If government schools are truly functioning at the expected level, then private schools should naturally face competition. But in many places government schools became the last option instead of the first.

Of course, many sincere teachers and excellent government schools exist. But overall public trust in the system remains weak in many areas because of lack of accountability, infrastructure problems, irregular monitoring, political interference, absenteeism, and outdated methods.

Education slowly became more of a business market than a public mission.

Why Should a Child Travel So Far Just for Good Education?

In villages, towns, and especially cities like Hyderabad, students often travel huge distances daily only because nearby schools are not trusted enough.

Some children spend one hour or more only traveling one side.

Morning traffic becomes filled with school buses, vans, autos, bikes, and private cars. Then again the same happens during return hours.

How much fuel is wasted daily only because quality education is concentrated in selected institutions?

How much time is wasted in traffic?

How much stress is created for students and parents?

In metro cities even a 5–10 kilometer distance can take more than one hour because of congestion.

Then governments talk about fuel conservation and pollution control.

But is weak public infrastructure itself not contributing to this problem?

Real Reform Means Building Strong Public Systems

Instead of endlessly announcing schemes and temporary reliefs, why cannot governments focus on building world-class neighborhood government schools?

Imagine if:

• every child gets quality education within 1–2 kilometers from home, 
• government schools become better than private schools, 
• rich and poor study together, 
• teachers are accountable, 
• infrastructure is modern, 
• digital learning supports education properly, 
• and parents trust nearby public schools confidently. 

Countries like Finland are often discussed because public education there became so strong that dependence on private schooling remained limited.

If India truly wants equality, then equality must begin from classrooms.

Because when children of ministers, officers, businessmen, laborers, farmers, and clerks study together in the same public system, only then will serious reform happen.

Otherwise speeches continue while ordinary people continue struggling.

Work From Home for Public, But Administrative Reform for Government?

Hybrid work culture and work-from-home systems can definitely reduce traffic and fuel consumption wherever practical.

But alongside public advice, should governments not also examine:

• unnecessary official travel, 
• oversized convoys, 
• misuse of government vehicles, 
• fuel expenditure of departments, 
• repeated political rallies using public resources, 
• and administrative inefficiency causing public burden? 

A country cannot ask sacrifice only from ordinary citizens while power systems continue enjoying privileges funded by taxpayers.

True leadership is not just advising sacrifice.

True leadership is showing it first.

Final Question

If governments genuinely want to reduce pollution, traffic, and fuel wastage, then instead of only asking citizens to change habits…

Should they first create a system where:

• leaders themselves follow the same standards, 
• public transport becomes reliable enough even for VIPs, 
• vehicle pooling gets clear and practical legal support, 
• and government schools become so strong that no child is forced to travel across cities merely for decent education? 

And if the government is truly serious about protecting the Indian economy during difficult international war-like situations and rising fuel pressure, then why not first issue strict circulars within government departments themselves?

Why not direct officials to use public transport, metro, buses, pooling, or cycles at least for normal daily travel between home and office wherever practical?

Why not clearly declare that government vehicles are strictly for official duty purposes and not for routine personal convenience or daily home-to-office travel?

And most importantly, why only temporary appeals during crisis situations?

Why not create permanent long-term systems where:

• every city has strong and safe public transport, 
• every locality has quality government schools nearby, 
• official misuse of public resources is permanently reduced, 
• and fuel-saving becomes part of administrative culture itself instead of emergency speeches during international tensions? 

Because when sacrifice and discipline start from the top permanently, not temporarily, only then do common people truly believe the nation is moving towards equality and responsible governance.