RTI - Power of knowing your rights - My Experience at PSU bank

This is about my experience of knowing ur rights and using proper channels to get work done at govt establishments.
Had to get a bank account statement and register for SMS alert at Syndicate bank, Chinchwad , Pune branch.
Was trying to do this at a non-home branch .

This is how conversation went
Me: Need statement for account.
Officer: Saving or current
Me: Saving
Office: We dont give statement for savings
Me: This is not possible u will have to give.
Officer: Take a xerox of passbook that will serve as statement
Me: I need proper statement with your stamp as I need to give for Visa.
Officer: Ok give a application and wait
After giving application all excuses start again.

Office: This account is not of our branch , we cant give.
Me:Madam u can see the details in ur computer , you just need to press print
Officer: But we are not allowed to . Go to your home branch
Me: Madam home branch is in another city, and I know u can print.
Officer: We have lot of other important work, So many checks are pending , we can not do this.
Me: My work is also important for me . U can not prioritize at ur will and Mine is just few mins work.
Officer: Ok Give a application and come next week.
Me: The time u spent arguing u could have printed .
Officer: We cant give u today give application and come next week
From this moment officer stops answering me , starts ignoring .
You are literally reduced to pleading for what is ur right.
Now I decide to fight.
I go to branch manager and tell him the issue.
He repeats the same excuses.
I Tell him I will complain to banking OMBUDSMAN. Everything changes . 
He calls officer and asks to give statement . I get statement in few mins.

Now I fill application for SMS alert and submit.
Again officer says non-home branch can not be done. System doesnt allow entry.
( System not working , access not there are common excuses)
Again Decide to fight.I know PSU banks are under RTI as they are owned by government.
I Write a RTI seeking  answer to whether SMS alert registration can not be done  at no branch? if so under what rule/Notication/GR.
I ask the Officer for PIO ie public information officer ie officer who is responsible for RTI applications. They have no Idea.
I say I need to file RTI. U need to give me in writing that non-home SMS registration can not be done.
All hell breaks loose. We can not give in writing to all customers such thinghs and all. How can u ask in writing.
I say u r PSU bankm U r under RTI and u will have to give information which I seek.
She probably had no idea of RTI and kept refusing. I say u do ur work and I will file RTI my way.
Either u take my application or will send by registered post. Then i am directed to senior officer.
He reads my RTI application and immediately directs officer to get my work done.
Officers gets my SMS alert registration done in few mins.
Moral: Know ur rights and fight for it . It doesnt need far effort. U just need to know ur rights and the authories to approach .
Many times for trivial issues , the offending officer doesnt want to face seniors or complaints .

Mrunaltai , Veteran Socialists, passes away

A Veteran socialists and Gandhian leader Mrunal Gore was lost yesterday. 
Fact that Sharad Pawar gave a half hour interview to a news channel recalling her memories, this despite they beign political adversaries, tells tall about the political culture she worked with.


A few highlights of her carrer.

• Gave up studies in Medicine to enter social work and fight for poorest of poor.
• Fought in Freedom struggle , Samyukta Maharashtra movement , Goa liberation movement , and many issues of urban poor , displaced farmers , tribal's, women, housing
• She was pioneer in getting Maharashtra assembly pass bill against female foeticide , a first in country. Her excellent speech in the assembly is said to have moved the male dominated assembly to pass the bill.
• She has lead one of the largest morcha of women post independence , won elections with highest majority and this in times when very few women ventured in public life , leave alone politics
• A Hardcore activists rejected offers of ministership in central and state governments, evening after winning elections with highests margins, just to be a activists for the poorests of poor, which she thought couldnt be done being a minister
•  Sharad Pawar admits her opposition was so fierce that during those times they were even afraid to move around the city in public.
• In 1977, when mrinal gore got elected to the lok sabha, popular slogan in mumbai was "paani wali bai dilli mein, dilli wali bai pani mein!". In fact Indira Gandhi had to ask Maharashtra CM Antulay to step down when Mrunaltai exposed him in a cement corruption
• Though fierce, she never disrupted working of assembly, never used foul language, never let political opposition affect personal relations and maintained high standards of politics in Maharashtra
• Few months back in a meeting with Sharad Pawar she requested him a help. The case being of a land in mumbai she had received decades ago to build houses for poor. After building those houses , the remaining land is now notified for commercial purpose by the government.'Since I didnt take land for commercial use , I want to return it back to govt.Have written many times but no reply. Please help me in this, as I am feeling restless' she said to Pawar. Even these days there are people like her who want to return commercial land to govt on moral grounds and was feeling restless till its returned.

A true socialists highly influenced by veteran socialists leade S.M.Joshi , Mrunaltai's conduct has always been full of humility , and inspiration to various activists across the country
Such a honest , fierce yet humble politician cum social activist will surely be missed by Maharashtra and the Nation.

references:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3650751.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3650384.ece
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/veteran-socialist-mrinal-gore-passes-away-244426

Why cant they make Dr Prakash Amte head of Tribal welfare project

Govt alleges Maosist dont allow development work in their area...
In the same maiost Area 3 generations of Amte Family are doing welfare work across many villages..
.
Dr Abhay Bang and many other social workers continue to live and work in tribal areas and have respect and confidence of tribals and maosists.They have won international acclodes for their development work.

Govt can make Nandan Nilkalani head of UUID project with 1000s of crores of fund and give him powers of minister without fighting elections.
Why cant they make Dr Prakash Amte head of Tribal welfare project , with powers of minister and with all the funds they are spending on fighting Maosists.?
If Nandan in expert in technology , Dr Prakash Amte is expert in tribal issues and welfare.Their work has been pathbreaking , proven and have confidence of
triabls and maosists.They are only restricted by money and powers.Give that to them and they can spearhead tribal development.

But govt wont do this.They are not serious about tribal development.Thats not the mandate from the corporates.. To be able to hand over resource rich land to corporations they want Maosists to go and tribals to remain underdeveloped so that they can be 'rehabliated' (read cleared) from the land. Will Anyone try to see this side of the story ?

Ref:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakash_Amte
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhay_and_Rani_Bang

Story of Steve Jobs, Jerry Yang, Kodak and a Software Developer

Once there was a Artist. He used to love making art pieces.He would take his time to think of a idea and once he got a idea he would implement it most beautifully and meticulosly. While making if its not up to his vision, he would break it and remake it.He would use all his creativity to make  sure end product would be a very beautiful creation.Beauty and creativity was never compromised.As a result the end product would also be excellent materpiece.

Word spread and people started liking his work. Someone realised that there's a huge demand for his work and offered him investments to start a company. He was not interested in money , however the thought that a large section of society can receive his work excited him and he agreed.

The company started. Large infrastructure , like automation machines , additional labor were added. All this
using the money from the investor.The artists would still continue to think of creative ideas.The infrastructure
helped him create mass products.Buisness started growing.

Now it was decided to expand the buisness. More investors were brought in to get capital.Huge capital investments were poured into the buisness.MBA's were brought to do market analysis.All possible strategies were thought of and implemented to increase profits.Investors started demanding returns , and huge profits soon took centerstage of all decisions.There was increased pressure on the artists to get more creative ideas.He was given briefings on market segmentsand asked to make custom creations for those segments.He was given time limits and numbers.He had to do X number of creationsin Y amount of time.

From here this story can turn in two directions

1) The artists had to comply as he was now answerable to the investors who had invested huge sums.He starts to make quick fast creations.He didnt have leisure of time to let a idea to be born.He couldnt create a idea.He had to manufacture them .He had to quickly give creations.He started looking at requirements and making custom machinezed ideas.They lacked true creativity.The Artists had lost his love of creativity.He now had to cater to market and deliver.The very foundation of the company , ie creative pieces, was compromised.Inital years company made huge profits based on its reputations.But as its basic foundation, creativity, was compromised, customers sooner started to dislike the products and the company started making loses. Thats what has happened to Kodak.It lost its soul , ie passion for getting people to see photos and got more involved in market volumes.As a result when new photo creation technology came in form of digital photos, its management was still focussed on its existing volumnous market rather than quickly reshaping itself.

2)The artists refuses to comply with market demands , stating he would only make creative products and would take his time.He would deliver little.But deliver the best.He doesnt care about market stats and profit margins.The investors are furious as they want higher returns on their investments.They find out that there are other artists in market whom they can hire and get thier work done.They decide to fire the founder artists and hire other artists who can create as per market needs.Thats what happed to Steve Jobs.Thats what has happened to Jerry Yang of yahoo. But as in case of Apple,the soul of the company was thrown out.The company ran into losses and they finally had to bring back Steve.Jerry may not be that lucky.Coz , by the time
he comes back the company might be sold.

The other artists in the second case , who agreed to create pieces as per market demands and in time bound manner, were earlier good artists.They went to same school of art where the artist character of this story went.They too had a dream of creating innovative products.But under pressures of life ,they had longed back summited to market demands.They gave up the love and freedom to make beautiful products at once own pace , to be creative in ideas and design.They now just cater to market demands.Their numbers are in lakhs and they are the Software developers like you and me.

Ways U can support the Anna movement

If you feel you want to contribute in fight against corruption ,
heres a list of small and big things you can do.
Remember , this is probably our best and last chance to fight corruption..do whatever you can.
Every penny counts

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1) Join the India against corruption facebook page here. There you will find links to various city speficifc pages...join them to find out the various events organised, various news on this movement

2) Add a badge to your profile pic. You can chose them here, and here.  Its just a 2 click process

3) Send sms's supporting the movement to your friends. Sending 10 sms's to 10 people will not cost you more than 100Rs , but will create a big buzz. You can find SMS list here

4) Share the movements details , events on your facebook/twitter walls.you may not be able to attend a event , but some of your friends might be interested

5)  Go and attend local events like prabhat pherics , evening marches , mashal marches, rallies , dharnas...All you have to do is go stand there  and give slogans..It wont  take more than few hours of your life

6)  Take a prinout of Anna hazare's pic or any other posters from here and put them
    on your cars , bike .

7) Make small badges of Anna hazare , IAC etc and wear them whereever you go

8) Talk to your friends and relatives and inform them about the movement and that u r
    part of it...It will inspire them
  
9) Take a pic of yours and upload to your facebook page whenever you attend any event , .
      your friends seeing you participate , get inspired.

10)  Take leaves from office and attend full day events.You take leaves for picnics , family
     events .Take now for country.

11)  Set ringtone of Anna hazare in your phone...you can get it here
    
12) Write SMS, emails to your local MPs/MLA's about the movement , asking them to support it.
      You can get the list here  .Its very easy

13) Print pamplets and posters of the movement , get them xeroxed and distribute in your local area , local market .In a cost of a pizza , you can print 250 copies and educate 250 people about the event. You can get pamplets posters here and here in download/photos section

14)  If you dont have time , but can support financially. Get intouch with anyone who is working on this event in your local area and offer to bear cost of banner making , pamplet printing..Most money comes from volunteers own pockets.You can also donate using this

15) If you have political people in your friends list , tag them in the images of movement , or
     post movements news on their walls or ask them to join the movement.This will build pressure on them.


If you can suggest more ways to help , you are most welcome

Which side of history you want to be ?

On the eve of Team Annas struggle for corruption free India ,                                                      

                                            Which Side of History you want to be ?

                    Change Makers                                                                 Skeptics

370 BC , Chanakya: I will fight the greek invasion and create a strong empire spanning across India.	Skeptics: You are just a brahmin teacher living on mercy of king.How can you fight the geek invasion
In 17th Century , Shivaji maharaj: I want to end evil moghul rule , bring in a rule of justice, stop atrocities	Skeptics : Its stupid , no one can fight and win against the mighty moghuls, Shivaji is selfish and wants kingdom for his owns sake ,Shivaji along with his followers will be soon caught and killed
In 1848 , Jyotiba & Savitri phule: I want to educate women , abolish untouchability , save female infanticide, enable widow remarriage	Skeptics: It will destabilize society, its against religion, will bring gods anger, its foolish and against social order , it will never work , it will never happen
1929, Bhagat Singh: To overthrow british rule , I will awaken masses by taking revenge of Lala lajpat rai’s death , explode a bomb in assembly , go on hunger strike(41day) to demand equal rights for prisoners in jail	Skeptics: Such acts have no impact on society and can never end british rule .
Tilak: Swaraj is my birthright and I will have it	Skeptics: Sun never sets on british empire
Subhash Chandra Bose: I will form a army and will fight the british and defeat them	Skeptics: You can never do that.You are a common man , where will you find the resources to form an army and maitian it.Your army can never win against british.Its a futile, unrealistic effort
Ambedkar: Dalits deserve equal rights and I will fight to get it for them.	Skeptics: You are a poor dalit, you cant. Giving equality to dalits will destabilise social order and will harm larger interests of society in long run
Anna Hazare: Will change my drought porne, liquor den village into a ideal , properous village	Skeptics: No one can change this village , the liqour makers will kill you , people will not support you , droughts will never go
Anna Hazare: People have Right to Information(RTI) on govt documents.I will get it for them	Skeptics: If people get access to govt files it will do more harm to govt functioning and good. Govt will never allow people access to its files
Anna Hazare: Jan lokpal will end majority of corruption, I will get it .	Skeptics: Jan lokpal wont do much , corruption will happen , Govt will never give it.

My Choice is clear , 

I dont want to be with the armchair skeptics ..

I want to be on the side of history makers....I want to be with Team Anna..

What about you ?

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वारकरी येता घरी , तोची दसरा आणि दिवाळी

Its Waari time...time when lakhs of devotees take a one month long 200km walk to Pandharpur , chanting devotional songs , to meet thier god Vithal....The city is full of warkaris everywhere....Temples are full with warkaris sleeping there to spend the night  before they start the walk again next day. People too contribute by calling them to their houses to spend night , offer them lunch , dinner , snacks .Its considered auspicious to offer service to the one who are on a month long pilgrimages. I had this previlege today. Could manage to convince some of them to come to my house for snacks. I am staying alone , so couldnt invite for lunch or dinner ..but thought I could atleast offer them snacks.Even though having slept at 2:30 yesterday night , woke up at 5:30 again in the morning(dont know when was the last time I woke at that time :) ) . Why so early , warkaris are the very punctual in thier timings and start early morning at about 7am .   ....So early morning got stuff to make pohe, tea...then went to warkaris who were staying in  someone's bunglow nearby , and got them home...Made nice pohe and tea for them ...All the while they were talking on devotional topics...Felt like bliss....Waking up early at 5:30am , them cleaning the house , talking bath , going out, hearing religious talks  felt like it was diwali ...It Indeed was, as someone has said वारकरी येता घरी ,  तोची दसरा आणि दिवाळी..
                                                                                                                     Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari