Vip culture in ranthambhore or in every national park in india

[Rajbir Oberoi]

THE VIP CULTURE OF RANTHAMBHORE AND MISUSE OF THE POWERS BY THE BIG GUYS

Ranthambore, indeed a fascinating wildlife park but what makes it even more fascinating is the extent to which power-play has struck the chord. Though, politics was always at the centre in wildlife parks, the power of money, stature, position, legacy, history, designation, dignitary, & what not has become rampant & is out there in open. There are 2 camps when we talk of RTR- DFO & CFO & accordingly drivers, guides, forest guards also have clear-cut camps. While, DFO will ensure law & order in CFO's camp by charging penalties or cancellation of license; there is absolute dearth of law & order in his own camp. This lawlessness at DFO camp is taken care of by CFO in the similar fashion as is done by DFO. To add to the misery is the presence of VIPs.

Before, we proceed further we clearly need to understand who are these VIPs. From ruling government members to opposition members, from wildlife magazine owners to high-profile wildlife photographers, Photo Mentors, from owners of super luxury & prime properties to every relative of smallest of politician, from so called NGOs to the kins (niece, nephew, neighbor) of anybody & everybody who has either the power of Gandhi or power of names, from industrialists (their employees) to very beloved media & Bollywood (writers, cinematographers, documentary makers). This leaves us with very small section of people known as common tourists & wildlife enthusiasts who actually pay for the entry in the park & are sole source of revenue to wildlife parks (VIPs do not pay a single penny. Its barter business, favor in exchange of favor). Surprisingly, it is the common tourists who suffers at the cost of VIPs. While VIPs are taken to see tigers as if some circus is being put up for their entertainment, tourists are deprived of even natural sightings to accommodate VIPs in the presence of CFO, DFO & their attachments. The drivers & guides who try to intervene are slapped with penalties & cancellation of license for 8 days. Park opening & closing time is only for common tourists who are paying to visit the park & does not apply to VIPs. Same is the case with speed of gypsies which is only applicable to common gypsies & not to government & VIP gypsies. There are also cases when the penalties have been taken back on the grounds that the guide, driver belonged to the camp who slapped the penalty. However, these guides & drivers must have been handsomely bribed by the ones for whom they broke forest rules. & then the tourists wonder, "Why don't we spot tigers?" Such is the state & indeed a sad one.

What future does the wildlife parks in India hold? It is for us to reminisce & act. Not just RTR, this is the case with every wildlife park in India where a tourist just like common man is churned between power play & law of favoritism. The situation will only worsen in the times to come, but being aware is the first step to change. So here's To the Awareness & Hope for the time when the game is played the way it is supposed to be played!

PS: The source of the above information is primary; seen & experienced on numerous visits to RTR.

[Subhash Shrivastava]

Very sad. I am yet to visit any of the big wildlife tourist center, these reports from ground zero dampen the spirit further. there has have been a string of bad to worse news for the environment for a long time now.

[Rajbir Oberoi]

Don't loose your spirit, go for it and see what is happening and if you also feel that something is not right, put it across, we all know that nothing will change but at least by putting the stories people will be aware...at the end of the day we go to park with our hard earned money spent and who eats the cake everytime, VIP. Who have nothing to do with conservation and Wildlife, none of these VIPS will come out and raise their voice when there is tiger death and they come to park, miss use their Power and spot a Tiger whether it is being sighted at non tourism zone also coz for them its their seat and Power which they use everytime.