Old Habits Die Hard

My driving license was expiring on July 5th, 2020. India has moved forward and all applications are made online to avoid touts taking bribes which used to be a common practice. Old habits are not easy to change and I would like to narrate some of the behaviour patterns of people which despite a deadly virus continues to be the same in India.

Appointment for Submission

After applying for renewal in June, online, I waited for days to get an appointment but to no avail. Every night I would wait till 1 AM for the appointment window to open up and within 3 minutes the slot would close.

I had already paid a fee and submitted the application so I was at rest because I saw in the newspaper that till 30th September all papers would continue to be valid due to the spread of COVID 19.

After a long wait, on the 10th of August, the slot window certainly opened to allow more people to slots at different timings. All slots were however as usual closed and I finally got my call for the 19th of September which I happily took.

Old habits are not easy to change and I would like to narrate some of the behaviour patterns of people and the strange working of the transport office.

Outside the Transport Office

On the day of the submission of papers. Everyone was standing in a line in bright sunlight peacefully and wearing masks. There was no separate line for senior citizens and though uneasy due to the heat, they were quietly standing there.

A young man of around 30 years of age came, threw his weight around, and jumped the queue and went forward in the line.

Old habits die hard. There are still some pushy people who continue to push and pull and spoil the line and reach first. They do not bother about the convenience of others.

My turn came, there were no hand sanitizers or temperature checks. The staff saw my appointment letter and let me in.

One or two guards out of habit were spitting on the side of the gate disregarding the new steps taken for virus control health measures.

Neat Well Organized Office

However, inside the transport authority office, it was a pleasant sight. Everything was well marked and labeled and very neat. People were standing in line well-controlled and wearing masks.

My papers were in order. The lady at the counter asked me to go to the next counter after a medical test by getting the form signed by their official medical practitioner.

The Medical Test

I found that I had to go outside the gate and to the petrol pump next door where the doctor sat and attested the papers. I was enquiring and the people around me said that I was in the right place and the doctor would soon arrive.

To my horror, the doctor arrived on his bike quite unkempt himself and sat on the pavement. He asked for the papers, took his fees, and took less than a minute to sign without a single question. So it was as though I was visiting a tout like olden days and not an official attestor.

Approval of Papers

The rest of my journey was great. The papers were again checked. People were there in their slot time and all the formalities finished within an hour. My application was approved and I received a clearance before I reached home. The next day I received a message that it had already been despatched to me by speed post.

This was a great achievement. There are so many improvements in the system but old habits die hard.

Old Habits Die Hard - Lesson to be learned

The transport authority has to learn to give respect to senior citizens, by giving them priority in appointments. They also should not allow pushing and pulling. If people do not adhere to a queue they should be taken to task. Certain aspects of health wellness should be seriously adhered to and the staff should be trained not to spit and dirty the office premises. Touts should be absolutely abolished. Doctor’s should be appointed properly and trained to take tests.

Old habits die hard but they have to be removed for good governance practices in a country. Half-hearted practices should be avoided.