“I left the consulate with my chest high – 56 inches ” ; A Tale of silent Transformation in Indian Consulates

Swatch Bharat campaign is joked off most of the time.
After sixty years of a dynastic rule a change.

Now let me tell you a recent Incidence (no story). I was travelling from Canberra to Sydney by train. At a small station there was a change of the engine driver which took a minute. The relived driver walked down the platform and came across an empty coke can on the side under a bench. He picked it up and put it in the bin nearby and moved on as usual. I thought to myself, would it happen in India. Why not?
 
On a more serious note, now let me tell you my experience I had at the Indian consulate in Sydney yesterday. I had gone there for the life certificate. I was amazed at seeing the transformation in that office since my last visit:

• The man at the reception asked me even before I could say anything ‘sir have you come for the life certificate’. I said ‘Yes’. He asked me to give him the documents, take coffee and have a seat.

•  Some guys were already sitting and some kept coming. After some time, the councillor came out (I was told later that he comes out every half hour), called out the names, made them sign the certificate, signed it himself and handed it over. I was off in half an hour when the web site says it will take one day.

•     As though this was not enough, there was an old Anglo Indian pensioner from Railways – William D Fransis on a wheelchair accompanied by his grand-daughter. Frail and unable to speak. The consular saw him and asked for his form first. With the form in hand, he went to him and said ‘Sir from next year onwards, please do not come here for this certificate. Just go to your treating GP (Doctor), he will sign this certificate. After that please post it to us along with a photo copy of your passport. You will get it back in  a day and if you desire we will also send it to your paying office.

•  All pensioners present were amazed at the transformation. As though in unison, they all said ‘I am going for Modi’s public appearance next week’

Being a bit curious, I stayed on and started asking the receptionist about this noticeable transformation. He told me the following:

• We have to send to MEA, a monthly report highlighting the problems faced by visitors to the consulate and what actions have been taken to remove or reduce them? This is the result of that.

•  I asked him to tell me a few other improvements. He started off with a whole list. Let me tell you one of them. They have started a new emergency service. Say after office hours one learns that one’s father has passed away. You SMS your visa request on a given number. If the officer on duty considers it to be an emergency request, he will call you back and speak to you and in all probability for such a case give you a visa the moment you are able to reach him with your passport. I remember my son’s tears when he pleaded for a visa to get home after my wife’s death. While the Indian embassy tried its best to delay it, his Australian boss in Canberra had to intervene. My eyes are flowing with tears as I remember it while trying to bring this transformation to you. Only one thing has changed since then in the consulate – the PM. The same building the same staff.

• I left the consulate with my chest high – 56 inches

 Guys, this is a National Opportunity for us to redeem and rediscover ourselves. Let us contribute in the effort and not derail it. The least we can do is to have patience. Things are happening.

 Please do pass on this First Hand Account of Transformation to those who may not be knowing and to the media which will never publish such good deeds of the man. From my side, I sent an immediate e mail to the PMO with a copy to the Consular and the Ambassador

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