Sunday, 14 November 2010
The highly opaque Taluk offices in TN
There is always a said procedure for everything to happen. To get a patta, we pay Rs.90 and apply. But that is just official. Thats no where close to how the system operates. I applied for a patta for my land 3 months back. There is no information whatsoever on that. I went personally to the Sholinganallur taluk office to check. The reply was as cold as Tornoto in December. I applied for RTI only to realize that is yet another fundamental right in this democratic country which you can only talk about. Blatantly I hear that we can get patta in a month for a payment of Rs.6000 and Rs.15000 if you need it in two weeks. With the anti-corruption department active in the scene, the govt offices have found avenues in which they can do the crime without getting caught. Its not about whether one can afford that money. Its about why one should pay a penny more than what one is supposed to. Why is the process of patta not computerized? The reason is it closes doors for a huge revenue. Can I not be a common man to get the patta which I rightfully deserve without payment. Do I have to know a Collector or a minister. Now I believe - Incredible India. Such things can happen only in India. So much for returning to the country with such high hopes.
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I was amazed at the speed in which the concerned offices reacted to the blog post. I got the Patta document for my land within a day of bringing it to the notice of the higher authorities. While I was at the Taluk office to receive the Patta, I was pointed to the most generic mistake most of us do - go thru a middleman. As told by the authorities, the government processes are much simplified now. Its the middle-men who hype it and make it look like herculean task for which we have no time and hence thrust their involvement in the process at a huge sum. For all my fellow-citizens who want to get anything done at a government office, my most humble request is go directly to the office. It requires a little extra effort but is worth every minute of your time. And if things don't work for you, you know whom exactly to blame and we don't end up pointing the enttire system wrong. As educated citizens, we know where to appeal if we want things to move. There is nothing additional you need to pay other than what is actually due and if there is anybody IN THE GOVT OFFICE who asks you for a bribe, escalate the issue with the concerned authorities. Never pay bribe.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the collector of Kanchipuram district and the Tashildar of the Sholinganallur Taluk office and other officials involved, I got my patta.
Now that is good RTI info. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting the patta, that brings back some faith! The govt and public should both work on eliminating the middlemen.
ReplyDeleteOfcourse your blog post has opened the gates and you got the patta.But very few people are only highlighting the difficulties which they are facing in the Govt Dept. Most of them do not know what is RTI (particularly the rural people). In order to get their things done without any delay public are encouraging these middlemen.Needless to mention here that the govt staff also are indirctly, without involving themselves, obtaining benefit from these middlemen. It is you who took up the step by writing a blog and got the patta. But how many are willing/interested to take up these matters to the higher authorities. Public are aware of this evil practices and these middle men are exploiting them knowing fully well that the Fundamental Right in this Democratic country can talk to only those few people who boldly discourage bribing. Any way you are one among that few people. Keep going on that right path. My sincere congratulations.
ReplyDeleteGreat! good to know that they 've acted quickly after your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Lavanya, it's unbelievable that they reacted to your blog!! That is a sign of India Shining!
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