JOIN USGoing through the right channel
There’s no dearth of public utility services in the City. But a common sight at most of these centres is the long, endless queue. People either wait for hours or simply hire agents or touts to get their work done.
These touts have thus become indispensable and act as mediators for those who want to get their work done in a jiffy. Some Bangaloreans, who have visited the public utility centres, talked about their experiences.
Subramanian, a retired government employee, says, “By hiring touts one will not learn anything. To get a PAN number, all you have to do is fill a simple form. But people have been entrusting this simple task to agents for huge amounts of money. Today’s youngsters don’t seem to have the patience to do even simple things themselves.”
Most people who visit these centres say they’re unfamiliar with the procedures. They feel it’s too complicated and touts do a faster job.
“We are unaware of the correct procedures. I am bad at understanding government procedures and filling application forms. There’s no way one can get information on the working of these agencies in simple language. There is a big communication gap between the public and government agencies. That is why touts exploit this situation in their favour. Let the government make the procedures simpler and transparent. Then standing in queues would make sense,” says Prasanna, a hardware professional.
Raghavendra Bhat, a software engineer, too has the same complaint.
“The passport authority claims to have a website where people can get all the necessary information. But most of the time, the website is not updated. For instance, when it comes to ration card, the story is much more complicated. The headache starts from locating the food and civil supplies’ office and under which area it comes. And you cannot avoid going from one desk to another to get the card done. Entrust the same task to an agent and everything falls in place. If you go through the proper channel, then I don’t know how many days it will take,” he says.
Radha, a homemaker, points out that people’s impatience and lack of interest have helped touts mushroom in the City.
She says that she got all her documents processed without paying a bribe.
“I have got all these documents without paying a single penny and without the help of any agents. It is just a myth that without agents and bribe, one cannot get things done. People who complain about the system are doing nothing to improve it. Blaming public utilities is the easiest thing to do. But if people start cooperating by making an effort to read the instructions and understand the requirements and procedures with patience, that would make a difference,” she sums up.