Every Indian, will have faced atleast one of these situations.... Check out!!
#1. The telephone office: (Ssshhh...its a govt one) The organization seems to have cracked a record in putting customers to experience network problems, congestion, cross connections and signal failures; and the subscribers also seem to have broken the record for putting the company officials to discomfort, by pouring down infrequent complaints....
Mango people(read Aam Janta): 'I will be dumping this connection in no time'.
Me(to Mango people) : This warning will be ignored by them like those unceasing piled up complaints in their office, and sometime back when I had given a similar warning, I was shown the Customer Care office by one of the officers, from where I could collect the connection-surrendering form !!!!!!!
Me(to the company) : I am sure the highly qualified Telecomm officers(who remain busy calculating their PF, DA, HRA... most of the time in office) will be able to decode why customers have to suffer so badly. It is true that such a large population relies on a dumb connection like yours. Yet there is no zeal to improve things from your side. It is unfortunate that our Govt. has placed so much of revenue and great infrastructure in wrong hands. We Indians have learnt to compromise with our needs and your esteemed company is the biggest teacher of it. It is evident that this single highlight is not going to change your way of doing things at your own pace. However, I have still chosen to pour out the minds of millions across this country, to show the company, the mirror!!
#2. The Electricity board office: (Zor ka jhatka... zoron se lagaa) Though Bengal is receiving a more-or-less stable domestic supply during the monsoons, the excessive installation of air conditioners in thousands of houses during summer led to insufficient power supply and consequently, frequent midnight power cuts. Hooking has been the best age old practise among the weaker sections of the society to get some light. Several schemes like ADPRP were designed to reduce power loss during transmission, but moving at snail's pace they failed to achieve the desired goal in stipulated time. Locally, queues for anything in these offices is such a menace.
Mango people(among themselves): 'Is this the line for getting a new connection? I have been directed here by the other department'. She reaches the counter, shows the application, and is now told by the red-mouthed employee, 'Madam, not here. New connection and everything ...2nd floor', slurping the paan inside. And it goes on and on and on...till she gets lucky.
Me(to Mango people): Neither will they take down a complaint or accept an application without harassing you. I was made to wait for 4 hours when I went to settle a 6 month old dispute, and was sent from one counter to another in relay... for 10 times or so.. every one clearly waving off their responsibilities. The most shameful thing is that they make even senior citizens wait in these queues.
Me(to the board): Online bill payment systems being set up in most of the states, may be the best option to avoid queues but not every section of the society is net-savvy. Moreover, this is a nation where people are still 'scared' or give a second thought before making an online transaction. Our forefathers, still feel manual way is the safest. So we expect you to show little sympathy to the senior citizens who visit your offices to pay for the mere services you provide.
#3. Identity(crisis): Be it the bank, your mobile connection provider, the passport office, or the bill paying and ticket booking agencies, identity is everything for them. You are suppose to provide them with 5 copies of the same document as a proof. If you are changing from a post paid to a pre-paid connection, you have to re-appear with the same set of documents. They can't transfer it simply.
Mango people: "Isn't any one identity proof enough? Why do I need to provide all of them...aadhar, PAN, Voter id card...?'' ...."What??? How do you want me to prove that I have been a student of this college, without an ID card??? Grrrr.....!
#4. The Plumber(Ek boondh pani ki kimat...tum kya jano plumber babu): They happen to be the V.V.VIPs of your area. Call them during an emergency, they either don't pick up the phone, or say they cant arrive before the evening, which boils down to the next day usually.
Mango people(to the deemed plumber): 'I request you to give a visit as fast as possible. There is no water since the last 12hrs. Its an emergency, bhaiya, please...'
Me(to mango people): Irrespective of whatever amount of politeness or brotherhood you show, they will visit only if they think it is important after they are nicely done with the afternoon nap. They will not show any hurry to finish their hand's work to serve you in emergency. You cant even ask them why they took so long to reach, when they come and treat the majesty with grandeur, and be obliged to him for having taken his precious time out to lend you his service. Duh!
#5. Public toilets(the most hygienic place on earth): Till date, cheapest thing to use (@rs.3 and rs. 5 for the short and the long nature's call). The lack of public toilets affects everybody in India, but somehow, its most devastating effect is on the Indian male. Indian males are a sensitive species. They hear the call of Nature more frequently, and also feel compelled to answer it more immediately. Now, one’s first instinct is to feel sorry for them. But one should never underestimate their mental strength. Over the years, they have boldly gone where no man has ever gone before.. They have quietly protested against bizarre concepts like shame, hygiene and public decency. Men, in short, have managed to make their problem a non-issue.
Mango men(the 'mard') : .................... peeee.......eee....ee...e...
