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Do you believe?

One of those days, when there was nothing much to do…or maybe there was and I just didn’t feel like it…

An extended coffee break with colleagues went into interesting areas of conversation…interesting to some…controversial to some…beliefs and principles….

A colleague had just come back from the Transport Office where she had gone for a learner’s test…as she had been in the U.S. inevitable comparisons were made between the US and the Indian system…

The red-tapism (a very Indian phrase mind you!) just gets to some people…but then there are believers like me…who believe that we can make it happen…we can make this system work…it just needs our time and some patience…

I admit entering any government office earlier would make you feel like that you have entered a claustrophobic cubbyhole...yes I do emphasis it as a thing of the past…coz things are changing…maybe not with supersonic speed…but they definitely are…

There are offices where the employees smile at you and wish you a cheerful good morning as soon as you enter…there are offices where the only machines are the high end IBM business machines…there are offices where you have a bi-lingual form available for those not well versed in the local lingo…there are offices where….Oh! I can go on and on…

But you just HAVE to believe. Believe that you are making the change. Right here and right now…believe that if you refuse to give that money and spend those 2 hours being physically present on the premises, the work WILL get done.

Care to take the time out to give all this a chance??? Coz that is all I am asking…a bucketful of your time, mixed with a pail of positive belief…to make this work…wanna try???

Comments

Anonymous said…
What's the use of those high end IBM machines, those cheerful greetings, if I have to go without electricity for 4 hours everyday, I have to endure horrific road conditions while driving on every road, I dont get clean drinking water, ... I could go on and on. And no .. I dont live in a rural area. This is Pune I am talking about. Supposedly among the top 6 cities in India.

But what do I do about this? I sit and discuss the sad situation with friends and colleagues and family. But I never question the Government. None of us do!

Yes we can make the system work, but only if we make the Government answerable to us. If I am expected to pay taxes, I expect to get the proper amenities in return.
7:47 PM
Anamika said…
Hey Manish!

How about some active participation rather than being armchair critics???? How many times have you tested the Corporation phone lines with your complaints (have tried it out and its worked) Yes, I do agree that the redressal is not immediate, but then neither is it with the service operators of private cellular operators...how come we grin and bear it then??? Just a thought...

I do understand the frustration...but lets get out there and be the change...try!
11:50 AM
Anonymous said…
I couldn't agree more. I think it is quite 'normal' for us all to notice only the lousy part of any system. Like in life, the good part we take so for granted and don't acknowledge it at all.

Those red-tape worms, I am sure didn't quite start off like that. All of them officials are all graduates and are grossly under-paid. And many of us know how much we get paid for doing work that "saves the world". Gawd my PDA is so slow!

For example - Think about the millions that travel all over the country by road, rail, air. And reach home safe. This is a big country and running it, even in its current state is not a joke.

The Government is not something "out-there" that we have to make answerable. Cleaning the system up is a constant job and it our collective responsibility. Lets start. Its about time.

Oh by the way VOTE FOR ME ;-)
5:41 PM
Anamika said…
Hey rjsh!

Its really great to have that positive feedback! Now all we need is you holding office to make it work ;-)
5:17 PM
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