Continuing with my earlier blog entry, I wanted to share my experience of trying to obtain my Driver’s License (DL) for a car. I already had a DL for a two-wheeler and needed to get one for my car. So here is how it happened (rather happening, as after 2 weeks, and in spite of knowing a high ranking inspector, yet to obtain my license!!). My 2-wheeler DL was at a different address to the current address where I am staying. Apparently, the rules state that the address has to be changed to the current one first and only then I can apply to a DL for car. SO I put all these in one file and took it to the case worker!!. It was supposed to be done in a day but read below for what happened.
The next day when I went, I was told to finish some formality with the paperwork and I did it myself and handed over the file to the caseworker. He said that O could come later in the afternoon but since I was going elsewhere, I told him I will collect the file next day, get the signature of a higher ranking officer (who had refused to sign the day before and was talking about rules….when he didn’t sign the file for my sister all because of the fact her LL was through a Driving School and apparently she has to approach for the DL test through the school because if we start coming directly, his varamana(income) is affected!!!) and take my DL test. I was happy when I left the RTO building. The next day things took a turn for the worse. They couldn’t locate the file that I had personally handed over to them. Finally after a wait for nearly a month where my file was lost and the reason they gave was priceless.
Officer : Nimdu file na separate aagi idu antha helidde mix maadbittidaare nanna assistant
I had asked my assistant to keep your file separate, but she (my assistant) has mixed it up
Assistant(Lady): Illi ondu file ithu, naanu boss na kelde avru return maadbidu andru…Naanu hesaru nodlilla, adhu nimde aagirbahudu
I saw one file here and asked about it to my boss and he asked me to return it to the other side. That file might be yours (as I didn’t see the name or details)
Lady 2:Naanu hordavaaga aa madam ondu file thandru…Naanu table mele ittbittu horte, naanu hesarella nodlilla, adhe irbahudu nimma file
When I was leaving, that lady (Assistant/Lady1) gave me a file and as I was in a hurry to leave, I left it on my table. I didn’t check the name or details, that file may be the one!!!
So after a week of these excuses, it was decided that the file was lost and because I was from “officer kade” (meaning officer’s side), they were going to prepare a duplicate file and made me pay an additional 200Rs (I had already paid 270Rs for the test fee, card fees and the address change). I then went with the same officer to the ARTO’s office as his signature was required and while talking to me, he asked me about my background, stay in the US( during the conversation, I had to tell him that I had just returned from USA) and he asked me where in the US and I said Boston. He looked up and suddenly things or rather the situation changed. He said that instead of wasting another card, they could use the Smart Card for the two wheeler and endorse the same for the 4-wheeler also. He then told me through his assistant that after I am done with the formalities, he wanted to talk to me. Suddenly the respect you get increases exponentially. It seems that his daughter was going to Boston for higher studies and he needed as much information as possible regarding US and more specifically Boston. For all the delay, here was the icing on the cake, He let me use his car to take the test and I got my license in an hour. So finally I found one honest and sincere individual in the entire RTO building and that too at the highest level (ARTO is second to RTO). I thanked him wholeheartedly and came back happy and of course with my DL!!!
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