I’m at a government office right now. I was supposed to be home but I am still here and still have a lot of time to write this. Why? Because I came prepared with all my documents, I got my proofs, I read all the instructions, I got special photos made yesterday, I ran 24×7 to have a smooth process. Did I tell you I am and will still be here?
My documents uploaded online were accepted. Everything was. And here I sit for my final submissions of the same documents, and the Head here tells me the photographs are all wrong. “But wouldn’t the system have rejected them when I was uploading them?” I ask.
I don’t even remember getting a decent answer. Okay, desperate to get it done, I felt happy when he told me there’s a photostat guy in the office itself. He’ll do it all. Great. It’s within the office, how can it be shady anyway? Five minutes later, I’ve shelled out ₹1000. “Ma’am, it is compulsory to take a minimum of 4 photos, ₹80 each.” The best part? I only needed one.
My form was accepted online, but I guess on the way here it gave birth to faults. So now, I sit here while my messiah, the photostat guy, assured me that he’ll make my entire form again. Because clearly, the edit option hasn’t been invented here at all. The guy sits right outside the main office and I have no idea how this is happening.
Why bother getting up on time and coming here with all uploaded documents and proofs? Why did I bother with all the prints two days ago? I’m spending extravagant amounts of money for something that is a service that I am entitled to.
Then it hit me, what must be the system here? There must be a huge daily turnover here right at this photostat table, no?
When I told this to my family, they just sighed. That’s the sad part. They weren’t even angry. They just said “aisa hi hota hai” or “it is what it is.” I’m sorry, but I’m not fine with this.
And to think of the number of people who must go through this. In fact, I’m sure all of us have or will go through something like this at some point.
We need change. The country needs help here.