- Bribe Fighter
- 8 years ago
- 5739 views
How i was insulted by the Assistant RTO while processing my DL renewal!
My Story:
Today, 19th Nov, 16 I was in RTO - Electronic city (EC) which is actually near Vijaya Bank Layout in South Blr. This was my 3rd visit to this RTO in the last few weeks. My requirement - to update my new residential address and renew my driving licence. The first Saturday, RTO was closed. The second Saturday, i was confronted by unhelpful reception staff (old man, permanent fixture), who only had Kannada forms and not all the forms either. He helpfully gave me the mobile number of an agent/tout and asked me to contact him. i contacted the agent who was away that day; also spoke to another tout who was outside - he wanted Rs 1000 for services to complete my work.
Which is when I decided to set out on my own.
That day I realised the difficulty involved in getting things done on my own. Multiple forms were required. Being over 40, i needed a medical certificate on a prescribed form duly signed by a govt doctor (i found out later that a private doctor also would do - the receptionist insisted that it had to be a govt doctor only). So i went back, educated myself on the process online (very helpful advice there! eternally grateful for that!), downloaded the English forms, got the doctor's certification, photos, self-addressed envelope, address proofs and visited the RTO today. (dont forget a plastic cover to slip in your old DL - crazy! Costs just Rs 2 outside in the tea shop - why cant the RTO keep a stock of them?)
Reached the RTO today before 9.30 am; not allowed in till 10. Meanwhile, agents and driving school staff were freely allowed in; allowed to make their payments without standing in any line. While we stood outside, we could hear the printers merrily printing away the payment receipts - work inside starts long before the general public (the non-bribe paying public actually) are even allowed in. So structured, formalised and institutionalised is the parallel RTO activity which flourishes.
At the EC RTO, the process of renewal of DL (along with change of address) requires you to first go to Room no 4, get your completed forms and documents attested and signed off by the superintendent (lady) who comes in only at 10.30 am (came in today a further 15 min late) - she writes the amount to be paid on the documents; you then go to the cash counter, pay the required amount and get the challan. One then joins the queue at Room no 1 (where you meet up with the revered Asst RTO); mammoth line outside and growing by the minute. To cut short the process, I stood in the queue at room no 1 straightaway, then called up my wife to join me at the RTO (what lengths we go to, to do things the straight way!); after she turned up, she stood in for me in the line at room no 1 while I went to room no 4 and then to the the cash counter to complete the formalities there
Post finishing the payment etc, I went back to Room No 1. The Assistant RTO officer (could not get his name, sorry! - but sitting in room no 1 today, 19th Nov) further checked the documents, the photos, the originals and the signature (from what i could make out). He chatted with each person for a few seconds in English, Hindi, Kannada etc. He sized me up when i reached the head of the line and says loudly "Why have you come to this office in knickers?". I was wearing a pair of formal shorts, long enough; touching my knees with side pockets - the type i wear every weekend. I kept quiet. Then, as i moved up to meet him, he says "is this what you wear when you go to work?" I do not say anything but push my forms towards him. Then he further says something about culture and how its headed down etc etc, signs my form and I move on.
The ridiculous irony of the whole thing! Under his watch, the Asst RTO officer of EC-RTO presides over an in-your-face corrupt institution which discourages and makes life miserable for anybody trying to follow the due process and encourages every tout and agent and bribe-giver around, who is trying to take short-cuts; and takes absolutely no action to curb these - (I am guessing here, but i do not know, that every employee in that august institution takes a cut of the bribes home) - and HE has a problem with what I am wearing - i go all over the city over weekends in this attire - running errands, shopping, visiting people, meeting docs, going to the hospital, watching movies - no, but that's not good enough for him! What a scumbag!
Next step - token number 48 and room no 8 for the biometric screening..... and the server is not working! After a long wait for the server to come on; the screening starts - this queue moves surprisingly fast. Then on to Room no 4 where the superintendent is busy and openly playing that fruit and vegetable game on her smartphone (reluctantly and after a long pause, she looked up to guide me to the counter in the room for the next and last step.)
By 12 noon i was out of the RTO with my treasured receipt/slip. Expect to get the licence home delivered in 30 days unless the RTO 'loses' it (which is exactly what happened to a friend who similarly tried to undertake the renewal licence on his own and avoiding the touts!)