When was the last time you visited an RTO office

Schools teach us so much. So many subjects. So many lessons. GK. maths. language. sports. But they miss out something very important to survive in India. The art of getting work done in a government office.

I belong to the proud majority, the majority who have vast knowledge on how the 2G scam happened, why is US behind Libya, which is the best place to have authentic chinese food in Chennai or who was the latest actor to apply divorce... but do not know how to cancel hypothecation in the Registration Certificate (RC) of a vehicle.

It so happened that for my previous vehicle, TVS Pep, the showroom where I bought it offered to do the procedure for a sum of some 300 rupees, approximately 5 years ago.

This year I had to cancel the hypothecation for my Kinetic Flyte (it was Kinetic when I bought it), the Lokpal demand was rising high, and the Anna Hazare bug bit me so I decided to get it done myself.

In my first visit, I easily located the RTO office of my area. (It was on a once-upon-a-time lonely place, where I used to learn driving.) Accompanied with my father, who claimed he had plenty of time post-retirement, I did a preliminary investigation on how things need to be done.

The people in the office were as cooperative as how people would respond if a policeman asks has anyone seen this murder.

Finally, someone gave the details seeing my father. Sometimes, age helps in getting things done.

So, here are the steps to be followed.

There is a cancellation charge of Rs. 150, which needs to be paid in the cash counter. You may have to do little donation for flag day.

The original RC, letter from the bank saying there is no default and the loan has been repaid in full, the latest vehicle insurance copy and pollution certificate copy along with a form duly signed by bank manager and the owner of the vehicle must be attached.

All these papers and the receipt should be submitted in the Tapal section.

The hypothecation-cancelled RC book can be collected after minimum three working days.

You may encounter responses like "the official has gone an inspection. Come tomorrow" or "your papers are not ready yet."

In my case, the person was pre-occupied with important task of showing his watch presented to him by some foreign-returned friend/relative of his to colleagues.

It will also be good if there is a father or anyone who can volunteer to visit the office four times.

Ignoring the money spent on fuel for visiting the RTO office four times, I was happy that I did not spend a paisa as bribe. Maybe, now I have the moral right to ask for an effective Lokpal.

P.S: I enquired the same showroom to know the current rate for this service. The man who answered my call said Rs. 450 as service charges and no receipt will be given. Now does this "service charge" come under tax evasion?

Shameful political game!

The English television channels are screaming about a gruesome rape attempt on a Kanpur-girl. Her fingers were chopped as she screamed for help. The poor girl is fighting for life at a local hospital. While the prime accused is still at large, police have managed to nab his accompanies.

There is a growing instance of such news in recent times. Less than a month ago an Uttar Pradesh MLA was accused of raping a girl and sending her to jail by lodging a false complaint. The MLA's wife was ready to do anything to save her husband. She claimed her husband "could not do anything" as he is under medication!

Both the victims are from Uttar Pradesh, a backward state, ruled by a woman chief minister, who is pre-occupied with erecting her own statues and taking on her male opponents.

Local politicians have already visited the victim's place and have given bites to channels. Congress party's 'youth face,' Mr. Rahul Gandhi is expected to pay a visit today.

It is overwhelming to see the humane face of these politicians, but sadly they are not human. Somehow, the victim is projected more as a dalit than a hapless poor woman. Would she be more secure, had she been an upper-class woman? Well, crimes against woman prevail in all sections of the society.

Also, the junior Gandhi visits Dalit households in U.P., Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Why not in Rajasthan? The Congress-ruled State is notorious for child marriages. The youth icon doesn't seem to comment on it at all. Maybe, he is waiting for the BJP to come back.

Paying visits, offerign sympathy, setting-up fast track courts, announcing compensations... Will these politicians ever realise they are all just reactionary and short-term solutions?

Crime against woman need a permanent solution. Rapes, especially, needs a psychological study. Some of these rapists are educated. How come education failed to teach him to respect woman and womanhood?

No matter what the bureaucrats or NGOs or social workers do, its these politicians who are the decision makers. When will they leave cheap political tactics and start addressing the root of the problem?