• I Paid A Bribe
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National Institute of Fashion Technology, Plot No. 15, Sector-4,…

Reported on November 4, 2014 from Ghazipur , Uttar Pradesh  ι Report #46470

National Institute of Fashion Technology,
Plot No. 15, Sector-4,
Kharghar, Navi Mumbai- 410210
Maharashtra.
4th November, 2014.

I, Saima Jafari, 19, am a permanent resident of mohalla Syedwara, Ghazipur city, Uttar Pradesh. I got a formal training plus certificate for driving a gearless two-wheeler under ‘women on wheels’ campaign by TVS in June 2013.
I went to apply for the Learner’s driving licence at the RTO Office in December 2013. I was asked to bring three passport-sized photographs, high school certificate (in proof of date of birth), and domicile certificate (nivas praman patra). I was being guided by a linkman, since I was not aware of the procedures that were to be followed. I filled the forms. The linkman had already marked which columns I was required to fill. He submitted my documents. Those in the office clicked my photograph and took my electronic signatures. That was all I had to do and I got the learner’s licence by post in a few days.
The licence left me in a shock because it allowed me to drive a four-wheeler too on the road, legally. I have never held the steering of a car before, but now I can legally drive it on road. Who’ll be held responsible in the case of an accident that I may cause? I had clearly told the linkman that I just know how to drive a gearless two-wheeler. He tried to convince me by saying that when you’ll come here after few months for getting a DL made for four-wheeler, you’ll again have to wait and waste the whole day here. But I had not ticked the check boxes or given my consent for the four-wheeler.
Secondly, I came to know that mere telling that I can drive a vehicle is not enough because I might be lying. There are proper rules and guidelines that state that a “driving test” has to be conducted, where an official has to be present in the vehicle along with the candidate. The candidate is required to drive on a serpentine track and identify various traffic symbols. The vehicle movement during the test would be recorded on video and stored as part of the candidate’s record. The picture of the candidate would be captured, midway during the test as additional record. But in my case, I did not give any tests. I wasn’t asked to. I wonder do they even have provisions and equipment for conducting such tests.
Thirdly, another shocking thing for me was the cost involved. The total cost of the learner’s licence is just INR 60 and that of a permanent smart card is INR 300. But I paid around INR 1500 in the name of “suvidha shulk” to that linkman. This sounded a very decent word to me and I didn’t have any idea at that time that I was committing the serious crime of paying bribe. I thought I was paying it for “better” services. Later, I came to know I should have got exactly the same services without paying any extra penny from my pocket, as the personnel over there already get paid for it by the government. As the saying goes, “why make things easier, when it is so easy to make them difficult”, and the “suvidha shulk” collection continues to be indulged in openly. The best part of the whole system is that these “suvidha shulk” collectors are fully convinced about the incompatibility of the existing acts and laws with the ground realities, and they show no inclination to enforce the same or insist on compliance by their targets, so long their small as well big “shulk” demands are taken care of.
I was wrong at many places. First of all, I shouldn’t have taken help from the linkman and should have studied about the procedures myself before going. I should have filled all the columns in the form by myself. I should have enquired about the test and the total cost involved in the process. Due to the lack of awareness, I have given a big contribution in corrupting my system. I cannot reverse my past mistakes, but now I want to humbly request the authorities to give orders to cancel my driving licence and do the same for all similar cases. Confiscating such licences will surely result in decrease in the number of avoidable traffic accidents and will also encourage fair play in the systems of our country.
I would request the authorities to kindly look into these matters. The officers cannot be so careless while giving licences. I believe driving is a big responsibility. I would also suggest making it mandatory for the personnel to wear their ID cards at work so that people can figure out whom to ask for help and whom not to.
I would like to ask a question. How can the linkmen wander in and around the RTO office so casually like it’s their own office? I do agree they are there because people like me are using them. If we shun them, they’ll disappear. But I'd request the authorities to keep a check on all such illegal activities that are happening everyday almost legally, which makes any government work without bribery a far cry for an honest civilian.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration.

Saima Jafari

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