Bureaucratic maze
K.VIJAYSHREE
|
The irony of the word ‘formalities’
|
As a corporate professional, I have to deal regularly, with the bureaucratic world to manage the corporate affairs of any company. As the general public would be aware, the word ‘formalities’, in the parlance of the corrupt bureaucracy, is another term for a bribe. I want to relate here an experience of mine with the bureaucratic world, where the so-called forthright officers tried to teach me in a bitter manner that formalities should not be taken for the term that it is always taken for.
In this particular instance, initially, my interaction with an assistant was minimal; I had to fall back upon a senior to throw light on the word ‘formalities’ once again. Little did I know then that this would unleash such a severe backlash upon me that I have to fight tooth and nail besides fighting for my own integrity as an honest professional, with no intention to tarnish the image of another person, least of all, a woman.
Eye-opening instance
The officer concerned and the assistant were on the point of closing the file, which was a difficult case and I was grateful that they were doing it purely out of a desire to help than from any other selfish motives, when someone told the officer that I had said that the assistant had talked about formalities.
Now when I came on the day hoping to close the file, this gentleman, who should know well that those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others, made it clear to all that I was not worthy of all their help as I had besmirched the image of a girl known for honesty by attributing a different meaning to the word formalities. I agree that there are a few people in the bureaucracy struggling to keep their honesty alive and they should be held in high esteem.
But do we not know how corrupt our bureaucracy is, and are we to be blamed for it? Should we be held responsible for what in India is accepted as a way of life?
Corrupt practices
We know that through ages, no matter how hard any one tries, corruption is so deeply rooted that no one has been able to uproot it despite all kinds of reforms for it.As this gentleman argued that before we enter into the office, we should know each and every officer’s nature and whether they are corrupt or not. It is a crime to offer a bribe as much as it is to take it. Should the general public or professionals dealing with them be aware beforehand of each individual’s intricacies, without enquiring from someone who was already in the know of it? Looks like, we are expected to be mind readers to manoeuvre in this corrupt bureaucratic maze or face the consequences of it, as I did in that instance.
When the irony of the word ‘formalities’ hit me, I felt like I was unjustifiably put on trial for nothing, while they grovel in front of the powerful and corrupt corporate people. Whether they are corrupt or not, the bureaucracy becomes one when it comes to dealing with the public. But, sadly, we are never one when dealing with them.
If we do not stand up for ourselves and learn to rise up and take a stance, our lone battles will only be a spectacle for the corrupt bureaucracy to laugh at, for the helpless situation that we always find ourselves in.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Open Page
