"Tatkaal" - Bribing the government

These days the hottest reform introduced in India seems to be "Tatkaal". Go to the railway reservation counter on the day of the journey and then ask for a reservation to an already packed train. Pay an extra 175 bucks and you would get a berth. The power of "Tatkaal". Go to the passport office shell out some extra bucks and the passport is ready for issue in less than 15 days when it usually takes up to 60 if it follows normal course! The magic of "Tatkaal" works again. Go to the Regional Tranport Officers office and apply for a drivers licence. Usually it takes up about 500 bucks and 45 days to get one. Shell out something extra and get it done with in a matter of days. No, I am not talking about bribing the karmchaaris (The pot-bellied, pan-chewing, zombie-eyed, hair-dyed, sleepy low-lives who request the "common man" for pouring in oil to run the machinery of the Government) who infest these offices. One of the most innovative ideas implemented by the Govenrment of India in recent times is "Tatkaal". These days every other government office seems to host one form or the other of this scheme that cuts across the red-tape and delivers on time. The government seems to have decided to exploit the less patient, less prepared and lazy to plan Indian citizen. Picture this: You want a reservation on a packed long-distance train, what do you do? Just like one of my friends from Orissa said - "Bribe the Travelling Ticket Examiner!". But that is not always a win-win situation because who knows, the TTE might end up to be a really "straight" guy! Why bribe the TTE when you can bribe the Railway Ministry? After all the money you are giving ends up in the treasury which is a good thing both for you and for everyone else. Why make certain corrupt low-lives richer by a few hundred bucks when you can redirect the money for the good of all? Think about it. Iam not a guy with socialist leanings neither do I have a soft corner for the commies. Yet, I sometimes feel sorry for the guys who end up in the waiting list (10% of seats on the train are reserved for "Tatkaal" use) because they could not pay the extra amount. I think schemes like "Tatkaal" are a step in the right direction for routing out corruption. After all when people can disclose crores of rupees under VDIS (Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme) and get away with it then why not the common man shell out a few hundred bucks and receive a red-carpet treatment from the departments?

Note:

"Tatkaal" came in handy when I had to get on the only train service (Godavari Express) that was resumed after "Pyaar" cyclone hit coastal Andhra.

In VDIS, If you disclose 1 crore of black money you get to pay the government 30 lakhs and get to keep the rest as white money!