Take no logic(Technology)

Yesterday my Internet Service Provider sent its personal for collection of renewal amount, which was due in one day. The person, entered my account number in his cell, and all my account details were available to him immediately, wherein he filled the amount and pressed OK. Then he removed a small handheld printer and voila, out came a receipt duly printed with the details. On enquiring with him, if was in a position to accept my office internet payment also, since even that was due, he replied in affirmative, and continued with the same procedure. Really amazing at the way technology has progressed.

Recently my travel in Mumbai’s BEST AC bus made me encounter a similar system in ticket vending. Instead of the age old system of tickets, the conductor entered the details in his hand held machine and out came a printed ticket.

But this got me thinking, if my internet provider could have such a service why is it that our government does not have it. I am here talking of the census, which is being conducted throughout the nation. Instead of filling in the forms, which are later scanned, why cant the same be conducted on hand held machines. It will save the time of scanning, the data can be sorted out immediately. But no, we are still way behind in governance for which i think there is no logic at all!!!!

Summer vacation and native place….

In India it is quite normal for most offices to be short of staff in Summers. Most of the staff take leaves and go to their native place. This is normally an annual affair. The best part is that since they have their own homes at their native places, the only expense they have to incur is the travelling part. Infact while returning back they bring loads of goodies from there.

Unfortunately for me, my ancestors decided to land directly at Mumbai(then Bombay) from Karachi during India Pakistan Partition. Had they given a thought that in future one of their generations might want to go to a “native” place, they would have done loads of good to me. So they came directly to Mumbai, my father was born and brought up in Mumbai. To make matters worse on the “native” place issue, he got married to my mom who’s parents had also migrated to Mumbai directly from Pakistan. So starts my agony, no paternal or maternal native place.

I got married….love marriage…which doesnt see “native” places….now i realise, even my wife doesnt have one. So from my fathers generation onwards, not a single of our generation can boast of a native place, where we can compulsorily go during vacations. Had my wife’s parents been in some other city, again it would have been to my advantage, visit my inlaws once in a year. But no….no native place …no inlaws in other part of the state, or country or world. But they are also based in Mumbai since long.

Now the only option for me is to have myself adopted by some village, wherein every year, I can also say I am going to my native place, wherein like others, I can also boast of booking tickets three months prior, because it the peak season, wherein I can also enjoy my vacations without having to worry about paying exorbitant prices for the hotel room. :))))))

A stitch in time….

My personal experience with a 15 year old medical condition and finally a small stitch has made me realize, that things when done immediately can save you a lot of agony. Seriously it has given me so much relief, sometimes i feel why didnt I have it done before.

The same applies to all things other then that also in life. But unfortunately some things are not in our hands, and cause long lasting damage, inspite of being aware of it.

One Coconut tree in my residential building was in a very bad shape. Fortunately the rain gods had not been so kind of India last year, else it would have fallen off a year back. After numerous visits to the Tree Authority by our building people, the department finally sent its personal to cut it off. Unfortunately the tree fell down by it was being cut. Fortunately except for a car there was no other damage. Anyways better late than never.

Wish some action will be taken on the repairs of my office building also which is more than 50 years old. Total neglect by our landlord over the years has led to a lot of weakening of the structure to the extent that certain portions are now falling off. The collapse of a spiral staircase and death of one person which occurred last week,should hopefully act as wakeup call. But then there is always an element of argument. Tenants feel that they have been regularly paying their dues to the landlord since past 50 years. Had he even maintained the building every 10 years also, todays condition could have been avoided. I agree…things need to be maintained.

Now my residential building is around 6 years old, in need of painting…any new building needs to be repainted in 5 years…since the walls are cured with water during the construction. But the matter is being stretched. Some of the people in the building are saying why should we paint a building which is hardly 6 years old. When will everybody learn that  A stitch in time……will save nine..