- मैंने रिश्वत दी
- 10 years ago
- 2034 दर्शनों की संख्या
Forced to use a tout for renewing driving license
- Transport
- Renewal of Domestic Driving License
- Paid INR 500
Letter written to RTO Andheri on 13th July 2015 after being forced to pay a bribe through a tout as follows:
To
MH02@Mahatranscom.in
Today at 2:41 PM
Attn: Mr Bhalerao, RTO and Mr Hemant Patil, Asst RTO
I am a senior citizen (70 years old). My driving license was due for renewal in Oct. Since I was planning to go abroad for six months I thought about renewing the license in advance. Having heard about the improvements in the procedures at RTO, I thought I should be a good citizen, avoid touts and apply for the renewal myself personally. Of course at the end of the exercise I realised that the system just does not encourage self applications and drives one to use the touts. Finally I also fell prey to this after struggling repeatedly and the tout got me the renewal receipt in 15 minutes, whereas I would have taken two to three hours of waiting in the various lines in rain and sun.
I felt that I should bring to your attention the problems I encountered so that if you have the inclination and interest you can do something about it for the benefit of other applicants like myself. I may or may not be alive at the time of the next renewal to benefit from it !
1. To start with, I downloaded all the forms for renewal, completed them and went to your office about ten days back. I was turned back saying that applications are not entertained more than 90 days before expiry of present license. WHY DONT YOU MENTION THIS RULE ON THE WEBSITE ALONG WITH OTHER RULES AND REQUIREMENTS ? I would have avoided the extra trip if I knew about this requirement.
2. When I went today to the first counter, he went through the papers and said that I have to fill up another form for a smart card renewal. HERE AGAIN WHY DONT YOU INCLUDE THIS FORM IN THE DOWNLOADS ON YOUR WEBSITE ?
3. I went to the counter suggested by him and the response of the lady (counter 5 I think) was that this form is not available with her and that I have to go the PRO to collect it. I went to the PRO, who was not there (possibly chai or chit chat or business else where) After about 15 minutes he appears and gives me the form. When I asked him why is this form not kept in counter 5, his response is that the forms just disappear from there. WHY SHOULD GENUINE PUBLIC BE MADE TO RUN FROM PILLAR TO POST FOR SOME PROBLEM YOU CAN EASILY CONTROL ?
4. After filling up the form and getting it checked and signed at two more counters, I am asked to pay the fees at the cashiers counter (I think No 11) There is a long and winding line there which just did not seem to be moving. I would have easily spent two hours there. When I went near the counter to check what was delaying the line, I found that the cashier in addition to collecting money from the people in the line was also making receipts for others not in line (touts, driving school people etc.) For every one receipt from the public, she was making two or three receipts for others, whose applications were somehow with her. That is why our line was not moving.
5. When I was feeling helpless, one tout approached me and offered to do the entire work in 15 minutes for additional payment (instead of rs 300 or rs 350, the official fees, I had to pay him rs 750) I tried to bargain with him, but he refused to reduce saying that he has to pay the staff and officers for each application and anything less would be unacceptable. Again out of helplessness I had to agree to his demands. He asked me to sit comfortably in one place and as promised he came in 15 minutes with the receipt and stamped documents, which he asked me to surrender at the counter where there was a uniformed person, who promised that the license will reach my house in a month or so.
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS RACKET IS CONTINUING WITHOUT THE CONNIVANCE OF PEOPLE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. HOW COULD THE TOUT WITHOUT STANDING IN THE LINE GET ALL THE WORK DONE IN 15 MINUTES, WHEN THE GENUINE PUBLIC IS MADE TO SUFFER. THERE IS NO SEPERATE LINE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND LADIES AND ALL OF US HAVE TO STAND IN RAIN OR SUN, WHILE THE PREVILEDGED FEW GET THEIR WORK DONE THROUGH TOUTS EFFORTLESSLY. I AM ASHAMED TO HAVE BRIBED YOUR PEOPLE THROUGH THE TOUT TODAY BUT AS I SAID EARLIER YOU MAKE US HELPLESS THROUGH YOUR PROCEDURES AND SYSTEMS. I HAVE WORKED AS A SENIOR EXECUTIVE IN PRIVATE SECTOR AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEMS FACED CAN EASILY BE SURMOUNTED ONLY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE DONE (AND THAT IS A BIG IF)
I met your ASST RTO and explained all this to him. His only response was that a separate line will be formed for senior citizens and ladies in future after getting necessary approvals. A SIMPLE SURPRISE CHECK ONCE IN A DAY BY THE ASST RTO OR RTO TO THESE COUNTERS WILL PUT ALL THE STAFF THERE ON ALERT. IF I AS AN OUTSIDER, CAN SEE WHAT IS WRONG, CANT YOU INSIDERS LEARN IT FASTER ? IF YOU HAVE TO ENCOURAGE TOUTS AND OTHERS (FOR PRACTICAL REASONS) BY ALL MEANS DO SO. BUT NOT AT THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE GENUINE PUBLIC. YOU CAN HAVE A SECOND CASHIER FOR THE DRIVING SCHOOLS ANT TOUTS THEN. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE CANT YOU SEE THE LINES OUTSIDE THE CASH COUNTER? DONT YOU THINK YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO REDUCE THE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC ?
Prakash Bijoor