Recently read a news about US government asking Google to provide lots and lots of data related which is related to the services Google provides. I am sure they must be utilizing this data for get to the corrupts. And then automatically me being a typical Indian wanted to check our country’s  rank in that list. To my surprise we rank 3rd in that list after US and Brazil. Wow.. It feels great to be in a such a list. Well that’s one side of the story I was thinking. But after reading the data requests that Google received I started thinking about what would our government departments have actually asked for. Checkout for analysis after the break.

About Google Transparency : Its an interactive map of Government Requests that shows the number of government inquiries for information about users and requests for Google to take down or censor content. The interactive Traffic graphs provide information about traffic to Google services around the world. Each graph shows historic traffic patterns for a given country/region and service. By illustrating outages, this tool visualizes disruptions in the free flow of information, whether it’s a government blocking information or a cable being cut.

Below is the graph that shows the requests from Indian Government agencies to Google in the past 1 year.

I’ll leave you guys with that thought because I need to go to bed now. OK, still let me give you some perspective. Have you ever looked at our government websites. I have talked about it earlier as well. But I think the more we are so called developing the more our government is showcase that they are technically sound. I mean I am not talking about the politicians. We bloody pay some great amount of money in taxes can’t we hire some sound technical guys to handle these stuffs. Alright I think I am deviating from the topic.

OK, I was suppose to give you some perspective. Alright, I was just looking at my blog and saw an advertisement on my blog via adsense that I have setup. I did not click on the ad but copied the link to the URL. You believe me it was Delhi Traffic Police Delhi Traffic Police is advertising via Google Adwords. Anyways, then in curiosity I went to check out the website. Our government needs to accept the fact that their developers su*k.  So there were some nice presentations regarding common wealth games. I could not believe my eyes by looking at the presentation. I mean such a big country and not even one single fucking person in India who can make a good looking presentation. You don’t believe me check this out. And yeah I was in an impression since it being a website where the whole world would be browsing to look for updated information but then I saw a link to download flash player which still links to Macromedia site. Thanks to Adobe that they have redirected it to the right place.

My first visit was quite short and simple. I took a form from the information counter and submitted it to the department who takes care of all the broadband movements. I was told that I would get my phone installed at my new house in 3-4 days. I remember it was Monday when I requested for the movement. Nothing happened for the next 5 days and I kept following up with them over the phone. The reason I was given for not being able to install the landline phone was that they did not have the wire. Even after 2-3 follow ups I got the same response over the phone.

I was really frustrated and I decided to pay a visit to MTNL. It was my second visit. It was Saturday and by the time I reached, the employees were about to go for lunch. I spoke to the guy whom I had spoken to earlier over the phone. He told me the same thing that they did not have the wire and I believed this guy. Well, I’ll tell you why, I had some problems initially with my Wi-Fi router so I went to the Area Manager to complaint about it. He told me that they did not even have the equipment for new connections how can they give replacements. So I know these linemen would not lie. This guy voluntarily asked me to go to the General Manager and complain about the same. I guess he wanted the issue of not being able to serve the customers due to non availability of equipments reported directly by the customer. I also felt the need to go to the General Manager. It was lunch time now and I had to wait for an hour. I decided to wait for the lunch to get over. All the employees had already gone for lunch except one guy who was still processing bill payments. I was amazed to see the punctuality of the government employees. BTW their lunch timing is between 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM.

While I was waiting I noticed some things which really shocked me and broke my heart. At the very same moment I had decided to write this post. It’s just that I was not getting time to write.

Ready!  Here we go!

• As soon as I entered the Building there were public restrooms and I could smell them stinking even from 20 meters.
• There was a water cooler but It was not working.
• There were around 40 Air conditioners in that hall but only 2 air conditioners were working. And those which were working had MTNL employees sleeping in front of them in their lunch time.
• In the hall around 30% of the people were sleeping on the chair and they all were MTNL employees.
• There were public displays of new products which had products displayed from ancient time. I wonder if the information on those displays has ever been changed from the time they were installed.
  The place was so dirty, people had spat here and there on the floor and walls.
• I somehow kinda started enjoying my wait. I went to the first floor to check if there was anyone sitting. And you won’t believe there was not even a single person sitting on the seat. It looked like I have come to an abandoned building. I peeked into some cabins but there was no one.
• Then I noticed something. A group of around 3-4 ladies were sleeping on the floor and tables during the lunch. I was so surprised to see that.
  I could have picked anything from there and no one would have asked me anything because no one was there.
• There were so many things, I have even forgotten half of them. Broken Window glasses, Out of order PCO etc.

Wait was over now. I headed to the General Manager’s cabin. I explained my situation to them. He made 2-3 calls. He also called the same guy who had sent me to him. Lineman told him the same thing. After 5 minutes I realized that he was no General Manager because there was another cabin where it was written General Manager on the door outside. Then I came to know that this guy was just an assistant to  the General Manager. I was also wondering how a General Manager of MTNL could sit in an open room where 3-4 people were also sitting. Anyways, he was helpless as well. He discussed the matter with his colleagues and asked me to meet the Area Manager.

I went to him and told him that I would have to get my broadband connection disconnected if MTNL does not have wire to install landline. Seriously why do I pay for the services when I do not get to use it. He wrote down my number and assured me that he would take care of it.

2 weeks passed. Nothing happened. Still no wires.
3 weeks passed. And I kept following up with the lineman almost every alternate day. Finally last week I got my phone installed and working.

But now, no broadband

Now I had to accomplish another mission of getting the broadband working. After so many calls with customer care and the lineman, I have finally been able to get my broadband connection up and running today.

I am not criticizing the services of MTNL here. Their services are superb, but only till the time its working. I have this connection for the last 2 years now and I did not face any major issues with it.

All I wanted to share with you all was that I think We can do good. We have good hardworking people in Indian Government offices as well. Its just that they have to come out of their comfort zone of being a government employee and start justifying their salaries.

BTW this was all about MTNL Rohini Sector 1

I am sure you would have had same kind of experience with some Government Offices. Do share it via comment.

People may use the power for wrong doing but I think we can start with some intelligent and responsible people like Bus Conductor, Shopkeepers who are sitting on a road watching it all the time. A Pan wallah on the Traffic Signal.

I am thinking of creating another website where I urge people to submit such pictures where people are captured while breaking the law. And our law enforcement team has to just identify the person and fine him/her.

Think about it. Bye !

Let me know your thoughts by posting your comments.

Anyways, If I assume it happens and we have all the stadiums ready to organize the games. Though our government has to do a really good job here to crack this nut. What if the people of India are not ready. We are overlooking this part. We have not even considered this factor yet. There will be a huge number of foreigners coming to Delhi and Indian tourism will get a drastic boost during September till December 2010.

I feel there are certain things that we need to take are as Indian citizens. People who are coming from other countries will not be familiar with our countries, so we will have to make sure we help them as much as we can. China was ready for Olympics a year ago from the actual event and we are running late.

Today I am just asking to you remember these 10 things which if done properly would definitely make our country better in terms of hospitality and people coming from other countries will also look at as developing country not under developed.

Give Shelter : As per Indian Government, Delhi is going to be short of accommodation for at least 6,000 tourists coming to Delhi. I urge every Delhite to make sure if you know someone who is coming to see Commonwealth Games then ask them to stay with you at your house if possible. Otherwise it will really be shameful to not to have space to stay for them.

Have some Generosity : You might have seen it already when people come from the western side of the world in India they are being overcharged by Indian people. To a certain limit its acceptable. But when people coming at this large scale I don’t think it will be required to do that. So I would urge you all Indians to not to promote such things. If you see some auto rickshaw or taxi driver or any shopkeeper overcharging the foreigners, please go help them.

Keep your city Clean : Don’t just pee and spit anywhere, I know many of you are reading this would not come under that category, but just think about it. Our government has spent millions in creating places for emergencies like these. I wish we had a rule for penalizing anyone who is found to be spitting on road. And anyone not following it would be charged 500 Rs on the spot. And mainly those Gukta guys, I just can’t explain it. So, guys please mind your tongue for 2 months at least.

Learn to behave : We by nature are very generous and hospitable, but only for Indians and our brothers. We need to show this hospitality to everyone who is coming to our country. This is the only way we can show our hospitality to the world and people who would come and visit our mother land. Remember ” Athiti Devo Bhava” There might be people who are coming to India for the first time and would expect everything to go right.

Help National Security : We saw terrorist attacks in mumbai and delhi this year and last year as well. Mumbai Blasts, Delhi Blasts etc. I am not sure what our government has learnt from it. But I want you to help avoid these kind of mishaps. Help our Security professionals to keep our country safe. I would request you all to report anything you suspect.

Follow traffic rules : Better late then never, what is this. I don’t understand. Who is late, what is never. I don’t know. All I know is I am getting late and if the traffic signal is not working then I am not going to wait. Please, don’t don’t do this. Don’t show that we don’t have traffic manners. Indians need to understand that traffic rules are not meant to be broken only, then are suppose to be followed as well. Its OK if you wait for 2 minutes and let other pass. If you notice, in hurry you spend 15 minutes standing on the signal because you stuck everybody on the signal. Don’t drive rash on roads during the games.

Respect their cultures : We might see people coming from various countries and cultures. We need to learn to respect their cultures. Their way of living will be different. In western culture display of public affection is not bad but in our culture its not suppose to be a good thing. We need to come out of this conservative ideology and start behaving like a developed country. If we need to be a Developed Country.

I am a citizen of your city since 1993 when I came here to take admission in my 10+2 vocational course. Ever since I am a fan of this city and love this city more than any other cities I have visited and lived in India. I think this is the most beautiful and safe city than any other.

I have used public transport medium for most of my commutes throughout  my stay in Delhi right from cycle rickshaw to Delhi metro and now the low floor buses. I remember a ride on an auto rickshaw somewhere in east Delhi where there were 9 people sitting inside the auto rickshaw and 6 hanging on the outside railing and bumper of the auto rickshaw. I have traveled through initially the most common and then the dangerous red-line buses to CNG fitted worlds largest fleet of Eco friendly transport system – The DTC buses.

The idea came to my mind during the recent launch of Tata Nano, when I thought that this small car can be treated as change agent to the public transport system of Delhi. While all other transport system has changed such as red line now replaced with blue line, DTC buses with now state of the art low floor buses, however there have been no change to the auto rickshaw. I propose an immediate changeover of all auto rickshaws to Tata Nano (the world car)

The proposed change could be initiated by the CM asking Ratan Tata to get the Nano fitted with the CNG kits. This will add up the cost of the Nano to 220K INR. This amount will still be lesser than the cost of the auto rickshaw.

The benefits of the same would be

• This will be most economical mode of transport than the auto rickshaw
• This would be much safer by design of a four wheel with respect to three wheeler Auto rickshaw.
• Will be a covered mode of transport as auto rickshaws are open from the sides
• Will be equipped with AC and a comfortable seating arrangement.
• Looks will definitely will be better than that of auto rickshaw
• Operating cost will be almost equal or may even lower down.
• Maintenance cost will also be almost equal.

Benefits to the commuters

• Safer version of transport
• Economically will not make much of the change
• Transport safety and reduction in no of accidents as auto rickshaw are more prone to accidents due to their capability of driving erratically
• Covered, Air conditioned mode of transport

Benefits to the Auto rickshaw owner’s community

• They will be getting more commuters due to its cost effectiveness than that of other Cab service providers
• The owners / drivers of the Nano cab will be more happy to let their families go on holiday in a car than that of auto rickshaw
• Nano would be available at least at 60% of the price they are paying for auto rickshaw, thus lesser burden on their loans and EMI’s

Benefits to Delhi / Transport Department

• Reduction in fatal road accidents
• World class mode of transportation available
• With much elegant mode of transport, behavior also changes  both for drivers and commuters

This once implemented successfully in Delhi can be implemented across the nation in metro cities.