Who do we blame ?

By Gaikhamdim Marangmei *

The other day I went to IGNOU Regional Center Delhi II, to complain that I have got the study materials in Hindi medium, when I have mention clearly in my form as 'AI' (code for English medium). I reach the center around 10:00 am, then after half and hour in the queue I got my turn, I told the person in the counter my problem, then he gave me a gate pass to meet the concerned person.

Then I was sent from one counter to the other and even after my original form was checked; then after going through from one counter to the other, finally reach the director's cabin, they preceded my file and I waited for half an hour.

By the time its already 1 PM and I didn't even had my breakfast and was very tired; then around 1:30 PM I got my file, then I was sent to another concerned person to update my account, I did that and they gave me a forwarding letter and told me to go to Maidan Giri ( IGNOU main campus) along with the Hindi material which I have receive; where I will have to exchange it with English medium materials.

The materials weight almost 4 Kgs, then around 3:00 PM I reach home was very tired, however again I have to rush for my coaching classes which is at 4:00 PM. After sitting in the class for almost two and half hour I was very tired as I was exposed in the soaring heat of Delhi for almost 3 hours while I was in the queue. Then the next day I was down with viral fever.

This episode has really taken me to ponder how much one have to face hardship by the mistake done by another, if the concern person would have entered AI instead of A2, then I would not have face this problem.

Then after few days, I met a professor in the University and narrated the whole incident. Then I came to the conclusion to drop the course and gave those Hindi materials to my professor, as there is no surety that I will be getting the material in a day and I cannot give my time to go to Maidan Giri consecutively for 2-3 days which is in extreme south may be 30 Kms plus from my place (north).

Then I took up another course in another Institute, you might be wandering what a foolish person I am, but I have got no other option then to do that as I cannot lose my classes for this problem and I know this is just the starting (problem).

Through this article I would like to appeal to one and all not to take for granted, any or the task which is assigned to them, even though it might be the simplest of all. And yes this mistake is very much common in offices of public undertaking (Govt.)

Here goes another incident which had happen to me last September (2008). I was supposed to get an income certificate of my father which I needed for applying a concession in an Institute for a course.

Well I was to take that certificate from SDO Office Lilong (Thoubal), so around 11:00 AM I went to the office and to my surprise the concerned officer has not come to the Office yet, and that I might have to wait till 12:00 PM.

So I waited till the Officer come, as soon as he came, the concerned staff who is dealing with me went to the Officer Cabin and after a while came out empty handed. Then I asked what is the matter, she told me that the officer had left the seal at his home!

So what next? I have no option then to leave the form and collect the next day. Not only this I could also see what was going on in the office, some male staff of the office was playing card and one was sleeping with a mat on the table.

I wonder what these people think of the office as, a rest house or a gambling zone? And the female staff are no better than their male colleague, they don't bother who is in there. They just keep on with their business i.e. gossiping, and regarding the officer - I wonder what might be his 'special' Office timing?

Such and irresponsible Government Servant, the Govt. is liberal, but that does not mean that one should take unfair advantage of the government property.

This is another incident which I encounter two years back. I needed to open an account in SBI, I could have open it in Delhi but as I was going home for vacation so I thought I will open it in Imphal .

My vacation was for twenty days, so after I reach home, the next day itself I went to SBI Secretariat Branch along with one of my cousin. Then when I reach the Bank I asked the person in the counter to give me a form for opening a saving account, just in front of me, he gave it to a person might be a person he knows, then when I asked he reply rudely "form loikhare".

I know he was lying but what can I do, I told my cousin to try but even his effort was in vain. So he suggested a way out, then he call up his colleague (Manipur Police Personal) to come with full uniform, finally we manage to get the form at last.

This is not the end; I had a hard time submitting the form and I wasted my whole vacation opening the bank account. Which I could have done it within two days in Delhi.

With all these experiences I had, I thought to myself that I will be worse than the person in the counter if I am to be in Govt. service in near future; but later I realized if we the young generation don't change the system who else will take up the task.

But, when young generation step out to take up the task to change the system (take Dr.Kishan for example) , our society is not ready to accept yet ! So whom do we blame for the entire malfunction in the govt. offices?