Single Window Solution - A Vision for Good Governance

Whenever you change the city of your residence, a lot many things need to be sorted out before normalcy is restored. With core banking at least one problem has reduced. You can get the change of address done by just filling a form and give it to the bank. Same is the case with shares. Earlier, you needed to inform every company about the change of address. Now you change that in your DMAT account and your job is done.

Mr. Nandan Nilkeni is working on UID, this identity will be good enough for many an issues. Why the Government does not engage some similar IT expert as a Honcho to solve this problem and simplify the procedure. I feel a single window solution could be thought of.

Once you change the city and move to a new place, what you should need is to get a police clearance from the earlier place. Similarly you should obtain a NOC for issuance of new Gas Connection, Pan Card, Ration Card, Driving License, Passport e.t.c., from the Single Window Solution Provider in your Locality. The NOC should be in two Forms. Form I for the Gas Connection and Form II for all other cards / licenses. It should be only ONE Form with Pages, one each for each of the subject. The system at both the places should be computerized and linked to all cities ( To begin with ).

You submit the NOC – Form I, at the Single Window Solution Provider in the new location and get your Gas Connection immediately from the Nearest Gas Agency, be it same or different. The solution Provider at the new location can check veracity of your NOC and issue you a new gas connection immediately. This would help you to start your kitchen first.

In the mean time you submit the Police Clearance Certificate to the nearest police station in your locality in the new place. This ensures that the police is also in the knowledge of the new arrival in his area of control. Your certificate, of being a good and civilized person without any adverse police records, gets continuity. He should then issue a Clearance Certificate, which is valid for submission of the form for getting your other cards and licenses.

The window should also give you a form II, against the form II submitted to him, on payment basis of course. The Form II could be in downloadable form from the net. Finally you can submit the Form II along with the copy of certificate from the police station and requisite number of photos pasted on each of the forms and the consolidated fee, take the receipt and take a sigh of relief. Your job should get done in the time mentioned on each of the form, meant for each card or license etc separately.

If you don’t get your things done in time, you should be entitled to approach the Lokayukt in your area.

So Simple! Service @ your doors from the Government which is OF the People, By the People and truly FOR the People!!

reality Bites

When you change your place of residence you are in big troubles as you have to deal with many issues which are beyond your comprehension otherwise. It starts with the Gas Connection. You have to deal with it immediately otherwise you will be forced either to eat out or do the cooking yourself. Next in Line is the Ration Card. You need to surrender the old get a NOC and then apply for it in your new city. Though it has lost the importance it had earlier, still it carries some weight.

In case your new residence is on rental basis, then you need to get your lease agreement registered, as a non – registered lease agreement has no validity and is not acceptable as a proof of residential address. In case you are moving to your own house, as is the case with me, you still have a problem if the house is in your wife’s name and the electricity and telephone bills too are in her name. You then need an affidavit from her to an effect which indicates that you being her husband or son / daughter live with her in that place. It will then only be treated as a valid address proof, not otherwise.

Voter Card needs to be changed, if you want to exercise your right as a conscientious citizen. Then comes the Pan Card. It is the simplest of all in my opinion and experience. You can file your returns from anywhere, however I feel you need to go the circle, from where the Pan Card was issued earlier, in case of a query raised by the IT department. So one must change the Pan Card as and when one changes the place or city at least.

Change of address for Passport is also necessary, in case you want to submit it as a proof of residence. It also helps during renewal as you do not have to approach the earlier place of issue.

Same Logic applies for the Driving License. But, it is the most cumbersome procedure of all. I faced it.

I realized on Jan 01, 2012 that my license was due to expire on Jan 06, 2012. I went to the RTO at Pune. I was told that the renewal involves a change of address also, so I needed to get a NOC from the earlier place of issue, which was Hyderabad in my case. I was also informed that if my request reaches them after the date of expiry, the RTO Hyderbad may not issue a NOC. In that case I will have to go through a routine procedure of going for a Learner License and then apply for a regular license. I had the fear of failure at the learner license stage as I have forgotten all traffic signals and rules over the last 40 years or so, and having particularly driven vehicles in cities like Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad and now Pune, which are all known for rule of Jungle Raj.

So, I decided to give a try to getting the NOC. Luckily my Son – In – Law stays at Hyderabad. I sent a letter by mail giving him or his father an authority to submit my application and take the delivery of NOC on my behalf. Thankfully, it worked. Appa ( Naveen’s father ) did manage to get the NOC. I had passed one hurdle. However, the courier - DTC in this case, played his spoiling role. I got the delivery of NOC after Jan 06, 2012.

I still did not give up. I approached the RTO. I could reach up to a stage when I thought that now it was cake walk, but NO!. He saw my papers and sent me to his boss. He saw all the papers and told me that I would require a Call Confirmation. I did not know what that meant. He scribbled something on my form and sent me back to Mr. Jadhav. He told me that I needed to get the CC from Hyderabd. He asked me to fill up that requisite form. He signed it and gave me and asked me to get it from Hyderabad. The only concessions he gave me were that he would accept a Fax or Scanned copy of CC and secondly He would still accept my application though it has expired technically. I gave a sigh of relief and took the form.

Again, I requested Navin and Appa to help me out and sent the letter through Blue Dart, by paying Rs.300/- which was very high, but the only consolation was that it would reach the destination th every next day. I accepted that as I had very little choices. Next day Appa was to proceed to Chennai, and it was a Saturday. I had the fear that the RTO would be closed because it happened to be a 2^nd Saturday.

My stars were favoring me. Appa had a tough time convincing the RTO guy there, to issue the CC. His contention was that his confirmation was already sent by post. Still Appa could finally get his way. And LO! He had the CC in his hands after spending a couple of hours and some sweat. Naveen sent me the scanned copy. Next day I went to the RTO and submitted my papers, paid the fee and got myself snapped. The last hurdle is crossed perhaps. I was informed that the license would reach me by post in about two weeks.

You now realize how difficult it is to get Change of address for the Driving License. So get it done in time. See the expiry date of your license, keep about a couple of months in hand and start the procedure.

Getting the Change of Address on passport too is cumbersome, but not that difficult. I have yet to do that to really know what are the issues involved. I would post a separate blog if need, in case I experience something rich.

If you do not have a bank pass book in the new city, please get it immediately, with the address and photos, as this is acceptable for the changes in passport. All in all, the process of change of voter card, Pan Card, Passport, Driving License, is not as Simple as it sounds. So don’t take these lightly. I am ready to give free consultancy to anyone in a similar situation.

Passing Shot : 

I fail to understand why government has not thought of computerization and centralization of these systems. You can apply On – Line for a new passport, but you can’t do so for renewal or change of address etc. Why?

A Visit to a Doctor

It is always very depressing to visit a doctor. The bliss of ignorance is shaken the moment the doctor pronounces a slew of probable problems you have and hands you over a big list of tests to be conducted. I detest anyone telling me that I am sick. Still the compulsions of family members forced me to visit the most detested person on the soil.

I had some rashes around my neck, which I was taking very lightly. I knew that whatever I was taking, ( with my experience and knowledge of drugs and having worked in this industry for over 3 decades ), will take about 2 weeks to restore normalcy and if I had gone to a doctor and spent over 2 hours and about 200 bucks ( that is what it takes now a days ) , to see him finally, he would give almost the same advise and medicines and you would almost take the same time to recover. So I avoided all these days. Unfortunately my family members and relatives thought otherwise and pushed me to a corner across the dinner table.

Finally I went to our regular doctor. I spent the time and money and came with a prescription that was verbatim same to what I was taking. But still it satisfied my family and relatives. I continued taking the medicine for a week and had almost the same rate of recovery. Still no one said a word about it, because I was under a doctor’s eye.

I visited him again on completion of the dosage. This time he was forthcoming and admitted that the recovery was not as per his expectations and so he referred me to a skin allergy specialist.

I did not waste a minute this time, as I was scared of the rebuttal in case I had procrastinated.  I spent almost 2hours again before I was finally called in. I saw only a small face with large spectacles above the table with his figure almost crouching under the table.

He looked through his huge glasses and asked in a very sad tone “ Yes, What’s the Problem ”. I was about to say “ I wish I knew ”, but refrained and told him what the issue that brought me to him was. He moved out slowly and got up from his chair. He took a magnifying glass in his hands because probably he thought that his huge spectacles did not have the requisite magnification. Now I could see the complete figure.  A frail body with very thin layer of flesh on the bones walked slowly and gingerly from his chair towards me. I could see excitement in his eyes and movements as he reached near me. He called up his assistant who was on an internship perhaps.

I removed my shirt on his instructions, which sounded more assertive now. He took my hand and moved his magnifying glass around the area of rashes on my hands , then around my neck and on back of my neck.

With a distinct firmness and tint of shrill of excitement he exclaimed “ SEE !! IT IS A CLASSIC CASE OF PHOTO SENSITIVE SKIN ALLERGY !! ” I could see Archimedes in him shouting “ EUREKA ”.

He then asked me what I wear normally. I told him about my liking for Jeans and T shirts. His eyes had a distinct spark and a smile of a winner as he looked towards his intern. He again said “ See !! It is confirmed ”. His magnifying glass still moved around the rash on my hands. Thank god, he did not expect me to say “ I move in BORN FREE attire ”.

Next he asked me when I noticed the first symptoms. I told him that it was some time after my trip to Kalpewadi, Nagaon near Alibag. Now suddenly I could see change in his ginger movements. All of a sudden I could see athleticism in him. He jumped 6 inches , which is all he could, with his fragile body, and said “ Affirmation !!  - This man must have moved on the beach and outside the resort on a sunny day ”. It was like we used to write Q E D after solving a theorem in our school days. I did not react and kept quiet, because I had started enjoying his act by now. He then asked me to roll up my pant, “ thank god again! ” and show him the legs. His magnifying glass shook vibrantly around my calves as the smile on his face broadened.

His next question to me was “ Do you move out like that always in broad day light? ”. I wanted to tell him that I was not a somnambulist, but controlled myself and told him, Yes, I did so for almost 4 decades during my service when I was in projects, but not any more after retirement. He had an answer to that too  -  Now your body and skin are no more accustomed  to the heat and sun and so the allergy on your body. It sounded realistic but funny.

I could relate this logic to the arms, the front of the neck and ears, but how on earth could Sun reach my covered legs and the back of my neck leaving my poor face which was so widely exposed to it.

“ Now, here are some medicines and an ointment and a sun cream.  The shirt you are wearing is of a thin cloth. You should not move out on a sunny day till this allergy goes. Still if at all you have to move out, wear something thicker.”

 I have not seen thicker full sleeve shirts in this part of the country. Still I maintained silence.  “ And yes, cover your ears and eyes, use a scarf if possible, apply sun cream 30 minutes before going out. It will have an effect for about 3 hours. In case you have to be out for a longer time, come in a shady area, apply the cream again, and again as required ”, he said with a confident voice.

This was all in the month of January and in Pune when it is under siege of a cold wave because of heavy snow fall in the northern part of the country. Imagine what would have been the prescription if I had suffered from this allergy sometime in April – July months?

In all probability he would have advised me to wear clothes suiting the people on NORTH POLE. Why?? Mind you all, It would have been only to save me from the effects of scorching heat outside, and save my soul, sorry, body from the ill effects of Photo Sensitive Skin Allergy.

Pune - The Cultural Hub

The cultural Life in Pune is very rich. Long back, before I decided to settle in Pune post my retirement, I had heard and known that the environment and the interest of Punaites is very conducive to all the cultural activities. Probably these factors must also be working as stimulants for the artists from all performing arts. I have been a Mumbaite and thought that Mumbai & Kolkata are the second homes for all performing arts, but Pune does not lag far behind and probably is ahead, more so because distances is not a big issue in Pune.

The art galleries, the Natya Gruhs, the centers for musical programs, are all within the reach of anyone interested in such activities. Besides, the transport is not very bad to ply to and fro from your residences.

I heard Kaushiki Chakravarti at Pimpri Chinchwad in a Diwali Sakal, around 7 kms from my residence at Aundh, and then I could attend her program again twice in as many weeks at Kothrud, again about 10 kms from my house. Similarly I attended the Savai Gandharva the third time at Raman Bag School, since my settlement here three years back , again about 7 kms from my house and this time I could attend another musical program there itself .

The three days musical nights were a treat to the connoisseurs. Pandit Atul Upadhye and Pandit Majumdar, Pandit Ajay Chakravarti, Pandit Rahul Sharma, Begum Parvin Sultana, Sushri Malini Rajurkar and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia simply enthralled the audience.

A few things in such gatherings which do not appeal me are:

That, that the organizers do not allow private video recordings. I fail to understand this. Do they all think that it would affect their business of sales of video cassettes? Even if its’ so, by what percentage? In fact if at all, such things will only promote the classical base of music, which is decaying very fast.

That, No channel promotes it, except perhaps for DD Bharati. This music gets very few sponsors and the music lovers are also less compared to the lovers of POP or any such jazzy music.

I am sure that if Shans, Sonus and the Shreyas can attract large gatherings, these artists can too. I also hope that some day a program will have artists from both the genres of music to enable the public to understand and realize that the Classical form is NO LESS enthralling. its' all about marketing, like we see in cricket and other sports.

That a little basic understanding of Ragas rendered is not given before commencement of the performance. If that is done, may be more and more people would get attracted towards this form of music.

I hope, the organizers come to know about it, realize it and make amends at the earliest. 

Loopholes Galore

You can file an application ON – LINE for a new passport, a new pan card, a new driving license etc etc, but you cannot do so if you want to get the change of address done in any of these documents. You have to approach these offices personally.

Similarly, if you need a driving license at a new place you need to get a NOC from the RTA of the older place. I cannot understand the reasons. I can understand requiring NOC for change of registration number of your car, but for driving license?? Why??

I have been struggling for last two weeks or so on one or other issue in each of these offices. What a waste of Time, Petrol, Money & Sweat?

You need to furnish all the details of sales outside the state to the ST department, every quarter, then they will scrutinize and issue you the C forms. Sometimes the servers are down, sometimes the stationary is not available, sometimes the person concerned is not in place and sometimes they have the great excuse of too much work load ?? This is what my sister in law told me when I talked about my misery.

The other day, HDFC’s global server was down so no transactions could be done almost for half a day. You experience similar situation at railway stations when they say that their servers are down. It is so most of the time.

Has computerization served us and simplified our jobs or are these all the ways for extortion?

Who will help the common man??

IDIOT BOX - not anymore

Whatever we watched on our TV sets, was great fun the other day.

I am sorry these are no more idiot boxes showing some idiotic stuff, compared to the show in the Lower & Upper Houses. The actors on the show played real life acts. Some acted on their own scripts without any director’s hints, where as some played to the tunes and scripts written and directed by their masters. All in all it was really a MAD – MAD World, with best of idiots playing their parts.

The ruling party succeeded in getting past the hurdle of simple majority, forget absolute majority in today’s context, through the help of boycott by SP & RJD & support of Trinamul Congress. How simple is the mathematics of Politics in our country ? You may not enjoy majority in any of the houses, but still you could not only rule the country but pass legislations. “ Power Corrupts & Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely ” !! How very true that is? And how very ironical was it because the matter on hands was none other than ANTI CORRUPTION BILL.

Could it have been possible without money flowing freely across the board or assurances of power sharing etc? Any Manipulation is corruption in my opinion, and should not be tolerated.

When it came to the Upper House, the ruling party realized by the end of the day that they would not be able to get past the stiff opposition, they stage managed the closure of proceedings. Even the opposition played the supporting game by putting up 187 amendments. But, I cannot understand why the house could not be continued and the amendments be heard and voted for or against? OR why top leaders could not meet separately and agree upon some major amendments and arrive at a consensus?

The ruling party should have also shown some flexibility and heard the voices of other parties and also shown empathy towards the voice of the PEOPLE. What is the point in thrusting a policy which has no takers?

The funniest part was that every party said they wanted a STRONG LOK PAL BILL, Even Team Anna Says that, but everybody was out proving how what they said was STRONG and not the other was not?  And to decide what that is, we have the mechanism of voting by voice or division by the MPs. We saw in both houses, what happens when it boils down to that.

I feel that a committee / commission of people from the judiciary, lawyers, NGOs fighting for this cause etc should have formed to come out with a final recommendation with a condition that it would be adopted in TOTO once it reaches the parliament. I think they would still have done a much better job, if the politicians were kept out of the loop. I seriously think that only specialists should decide what the best solution is, and then it should be formalized as a policy.

If you do not agree to this point of view, then see what is happening for all such matters, like Metro ( Underground or Over Ground in Pune ), Reservation in education, then in jobs, in politics and now for Lokpals & Lokayuktas, Permission for setting up NANO Plant ? How an issue which is bad for one state becomes good for the other and vice- versa?