A friend narrates the two sides of her extreme experiences to procure an Aadhaar card through a state government initiative.
The first was unnerving and harrowing. The dates had been announced for her neighbourhood and the venue was the corporation office at the market premises. Anticipating the rush in applications, she had reached the venue much before the scheduled time. However, there were already a good 30 people ahead of her, who had probably jumped into the queue right after getting out of bed early in the morning! The room in which they had to wait lacked basic facilities: none of the lights and fans worked in the small closed area without a single window. It was a trial by itself to stand in the sweltering heat of a humid morning without any air circulation. Adding to the misery was the unbearable stench from a toilet which was further aggravated by the pungent odour from sacks of bleaching powder and piles of dustbins dumped in the corners and sides of the room. Do not the officials who organise such ‘camps’ realise the misery faced by those waiting in such inhuman conditions?
To add insult to injury, an announcement was suddenly made that the machines for inputs were not functioning. “Kharap hoey geychey” was their comment. So, after waiting for hours, everyone was asked to leave since the actual work could not be done. The next morning, she gave it another try and reached the corporation office by 9 am along with her family. This time there were over 60 people ahead of her in the queue! She resigned herself to a long, long wait, hoping that in the end it would be worth it if the formalities could be completed for their Aadhaar Card. Alas, it was destined otherwise.
The queue of people lengthened by the minute and was soon snaking its way down the road outside. After a very long wait someone from the corporation office made an announcement:Just 180 people would be given the forms. But there was a catch to it. Each form was to be filled by each family (some families have many members) which meant that all the people waiting would never manage to get a form. It was again a completely futile endeavour for her since she stood quite far back in the line.
Feeling utterly dejected she returned home, fuming about the inhumane method of working. Can’t the authorities organise such an exercise in a more methodical manner? They could hold it in a more conducive environment like a school or college classroom where basic facilities like lights and fans that function, with benches for the elderly to sit and wait, are available. More personnel could be deployed to contain the large growing crowd and ensure that the queue is maintained properly.
Surely a little compassion and efficient handling of this project will ensure its success and not embitter so many disappointed and exasperated citizens.
As if an answer to her prayers, to her delight that very evening she was informed that another camp was being held that weekend in the locality’s club, just a stone’s throw from her residence. She reached well on time with her family members and to her immense relief they were among the first to be registered. It was a spacious hall where all the fans and lights worked. Three computers were set up fast to facilitate the procedure. Three young men manned the machines quite professionally. Apparently this was conducted by a private computer agency (probably outsourced) and it was over in a matter of minutes. Their Aadhaar cards would be delivered a month later, they were informed.
Read more at http://www.thestatesman.com/news/supplements/when-prayers-are-answered/168711.html#eTDuF0RI5G2OXcww.99
