MAM
Bigger expectation from govt in creating jobs and boosting economy: Ipsos global advisor attitudes
Mumbai: The Ipsos global survey titled, attitudes to crime & law enforcement shows, urban Indians want govt to prioritise creating jobs and boosting the economy (49 per cent) over stopping or reducing crime (32 per cent) and protecting local citizens’ health and environment (27 per cent).
Global citizens too had similar views of expecting their govt to focus on creating jobs and boosting the economy (50 per cent), over stopping or reducing crime (24 per cent) and protecting local citizens’ health and environment (27 per cent). Though in case of Chile (59 per cent) and Peru (55 per cent) more number of citizens expected their govt to prioritise stopping and reducing crime over everything else. Singapore (80 per cent) and Indonesia (77 per cent) had a vast majority of citizens exhorting their govt to prioritize creating jobs and boosting the economy over stopping and reducing crime or protecting citizens’ health or environment.
Further, the survey captured the perceptions of citizens on crime.
Views were divided on the state of crime and violence in the neighbourhood in the past 12 months: For urban Indians, 26 per cent said crime had increased, 37 per cent said it was the same, while 19 per cent said it had reduced. Chile (63 per cent) and Peru (62 per cent) had highest number of citizens claiming crime and violence had seen an uptick.
Citizens were asked to provide their views on a host of law and order issues around their neighbourhood in the past 12 months and across the list of crimes, that were seen to fester and the Indian citizens who replied in the affirmative for issues were – vandalism (26 per cent) (though India was placed lowest on this issue across all 31 markets); illicit drug consumption (28 per cent); burglaries (35 per cent); drug trafficking (27 per cent); violence against adult women (25 per cent); violence against adult men (26 per cent); gangs (25 per cent); violence against children and adolescents (27 per cent); and prostitution/ people prostituting themselves (23 per cent).
“For a market like India with large inequalities and the glaring divide between the haves and have nots, it is inevitable that crime is a harsh reality one lives with; and it takes more than a robust law and order system, vigilance and crackdown by the law enforcers. Onus also rests with the citizens in terms of being aware and cautious of potential dangers. Interestingly, jobs and the economy is taking precedence for citizens over law and orderin their expectation from the government,” stated Ipsos India CEO Amit Adarkar.
Confidence in law enforcement
A good law enforcement ecosystem is reassuring to citizens providing them both physical and mental peace. We assessed citizens on how confident they felt about law enforcement in their neighbourhood capturing views on different aspects. And interestingly more number of citizens were happy with the services rendered by law enforcers, in fairness, capability and effectiveness. For instance, 76 per cent Indian citizens said the law enforcers like the police in their neighbourhood was providing the same level of respect to all citizens; 76 per cent Indians were satisfied with the capability of the law enforcers in finding and arresting the correct criminal after a crime; 77 per cent citizens were satisfied with the ability of the law enforcers in stopping violent crimes from happening (India topped the global list on this attribute and the ability of our law enforcers); and 77 per cent citizens were satisfied with law enforcers’ ability of stopping non-violent crimes like burglaries, thefts from happening.
“Among citizens, there is fear of breaking the law and its implications. Likewise, the police, lawyers are respected by those on the right side of the law but dreaded by those who flout law. They are embodied with power to prosecute, jail and fine the offenders. That itself is highly reassuring for citizens and a deterrent,” added Adarkar.
The survey delved deeper to unravel the primary causes of crime and corruption. And the causes that came to light were alarming, at the same time addressable. Citizens felt the causes for crime and corruption were multitude, like, poverty and unemployment (50 per cent), drug and alcohol abuse (38 per cent), lack of education (34 per cent), corrupt political environment (31 per cent), ineffective law enforcement (20 per cent) and breakdown of traditional values (20 per cent).
“These factors are responsible for high crime rates; so apart from lifting the poor from their misery, the other factors cited that are fueling crime and corruption in our society should be addressed like unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, breakdown of traditional values,” stated Adarkar.
The survey also captured views on what is right and whether breaking the law under some circumstances was acceptable.
At least six in ten urban Indians (60 per cent) held the view that citizens should always obey the law even when it interfered with their interest; 40 per cent on the contrary held the view that sometimes one must ignore the law to do the right thing.
These are the findings of a 31-country Ipsos global advisor survey titled Attitudes on Crime and law enforcement survey that tracks how people around the world see crime playing out in their communities, what they want governments to do, and how much trust they have in law enforcement, among other trends etc.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
