I started thinking about what can be done about the garbage disposal problem in Zari( a slum near Bits Pilani Goa Campus….supposedly the worst slum in Goa). I thought why not contact the Municipal corporation or Public Welfare Department of Goa. I surfed and got some contact numbers from the internet. I called the head office of PWD and got the phone number of Mr. Praveen Satarpekar who was supposedly the concerned person . He directed me to Mr.Susheel Kumar , head of Division 9 under which Zari falls but there was no response from his side. Later I called Mr.Kunju of subdivision 1 of Division 9 again he did not bother to respond as he should have. Finally I got pissed off with the PWD and directed my energy and mobile balance to the Municipal Corporation . I directly called up the Municipal administrator Mr.Hawadar. Unlike all the other bureaucrats, this guy was very friendly and he informed me to call up the Vasco Division (the collector’s office).

I called up the collectors office and as stereotyped, a typical lazy , rude peon picks up the phone. He himself had not much information…but thank God he at least knew that Zari doesn’t fall under the collectors office and it comes under Sancoale Panchayat. The “inefficiency” was so “efficient” that he could not even help me with the phone numbers or at least the name of the Sarpanch was expected (but I guess it was expecting too much from people who are never monitored). But somehow by calling up some random numbers(well random things always work for me) I managed to get the phone number of Sancoale Panchayat. (I got the phone number from some random bank in Vasco :D…the bank manager was too surprised but he give the number…may God bless his bank :D). I was relieved coz my pockets were saved from further torture.

I finally called the Panchayat but the same old story of “our Indian Government office” follows……….a lazy clerk who had no idea about the work he was supposed to do picks up the phone to add to my irritation(luckily harshi was right thr 2 control me when out of control). He Knew the name of the president but could not give me any further details. I just give up after that or honestly speaking I had no balance left in my mobile.

Then where did I get the phone number from??….yeah…during our informal interactions with people of the slum, we accidentally met one of the guys who was close to the President (and thank God we did!!!). I finally called up the president and spoke to him about the problems faced by the people……fortunately he was very helpful and open….he even met us personally and promised that immediate action would be taken. Yoyoyo!!!!

But what pissed me off the most during the process was the inefficiency of the offices that run our country. I seriously think we need some technical advancement and training sessions in our Government offices for faster delivery of information and work.

Only we as youth can bring in this change……

Are you guys listening???

PS: Love ya Neha for all the internet connectivity