Back to the days of Babudom

Not sure how many of you remember those days of License Raj, but dealin with a public sector agency was one hell of a experience, coz those people out there thought they were doin us a favor and worse they never heard the concept of "customer being a KING".

Well, anyways today I tried renewin my insurance on the motor cycle and fortunately or unfortunately I happen to have an insurance policy from one of the government agencies and it was definitely an exciting experience. Over the period after the License Raj was ended and public sector companies are competing with private companies to serve the customer better and retain their market share. But guess just like they say habits die hard, I was at the receiving end when I tried renewing the insurance policy.

First when I walked in, they had three doors and I had to figure out which one was dealing with the motor cycle insurance and then when I figured it out, I was directed to one lady who happened to be in the grade of Assistant Manager, and when I apologised and produced my torn and tattered insurance photo copy, she asked me if the bike was in a good condition and I said yes and she was fine. The matter of fact was that she's supposed to inspect the motor cycle personally, guess she was tired after a good lunch ;-). Then she gave me a form and asked me to fill it up and when I decided to sit opp to her and fill it, she told me that there is a designated place to do that and directed me there. And when I started to fill it up I realized hell, she was supposed to do that and she passed the buck to me.

Anyways, once filled up I was asked to submit the same, she depreciated the 10% on the existing value and god alone knows whatever happened to No claim bonus and then again directed me to another counter. I move there and submitted the same and I was asked to wait. After sometime I was called and I head to make the payment, when I gave the monies to the lady, she expects me to give her change too and I apologise for not havin change and she murmurs some curses at me :-(. Once that is done, she routes the documents to the counter whereI went first and asks me to wait again. Atlast I get my policy with the premium paid but wait, I need to get a signature and she just gestures me towards the Asst Manager, while I'm all dazed, there is another guy who knows his way around and directs me to the person sittin behind the cubicle and when I approach him, he routes me to the first Asst Manager I met. Well she signs the same and then gestures me towards another lady sittin at another corner of the office, so I head in that direction and submit the same, and then the lady asks me wait again while she is busy filing other documents.

I realize she is a helper at the office and then she takes the carbon copy for filing and then gives me the original and puts in an envelope and this is the clincher!!!!!!!! She sports this BIG smile to me, well I realized that she was expecting me to tip her but unfortunately I was not carryin any small change with me, hence I matched her smile and turned around ;-) and was glad that for the next one year I needn't go through the same :-)

Few things I noticed was that, they really haven't changed ever after License Raj, they still feel they are doin us a favor, whatz with the concept of Customer bein the KING? hell we rule this place and time? excuse me??? you said time??? well we get paid to work for you people so our time is important to hell with your work and time ;-)

P.S: Please leave ur valuable comments on the blog and not on Facebook coz after years when we go through the same I would like to read the comments too and sure even others would like to see what response it has solicited :-) Thanks again for your time.