Passport Blues
October 11th, 2007Getting a passport in “Republic of India” is not so easy, you have to toil a lot and run desk to desk to get your work done. Its a natural scenario in all government offices. The passport office is not less. Last week the police officials came to my hostel for the verification. I was very pleased, now i didnt have to ferry witnesses to police station. All work were easy, but suddenly!
One of the officers called me and said lightly-”You have to atleast bear the expenses of the the verification and the transportation costs”. What was this? Clearly-They were asking for bribes. I had to shell out 150 bucks out of my pockets and passed it in the hands of those public servants. Just see the switness after being bribed. My appication moved on so swiftly that I cant even believe myself.
Yesterday I got a call for the photo verification at 8PM. As usual I hurried up to their den in bad weather, it took 15 mins for all the formalities, said “Thanks You!” to the Inspector and its all done. Just observe the swiftness. Bribing is against my belief, but no other option was left, if I had denied I would had to run pillar to pillar for this great document. After all this is India, my Motherland.