Let me tell my story, Im from BTM Layout, Running a small office here.
The fine day there was no power from 2.00 PM onwards.
In the night we realized that there is power every where else.
Our neighbour said, They saw some one fidling with the meter box &
suggested that probably our fuse was removed for non payment of bill.
We checked and confirmed that the fuse was removed.
The sad part was though there were people working in the office, no body
was informed.
I went to BTM Bescom office at night 8.30 PM,
The people there said only the concerned person removed the fuse is authorized to put it back
& I can meet him the next morning.
The next day when I went there, it was a public holiday, and people were taking festive
snacks.
Though there were other meter readers, My man was not available.
The saddest part is in this particular office, every one will respond to you.
You will find all the line man -to meter reader -to bill collector,
every one will come and enquire abt the matter and give there suggestions.
Though there is a reception kind of area, you wont find the concerned person sitting there.
The chair will be occupied by any one related to BESCOM some times a sweeper or office boy
and it will be funny to watch they way they try to adddress your issue.
I waited for about 3 hrs,
When I started question about the concerned officers, and I want to talk to them atleast over the phone.
A group of meter readers, raised there voice.
(In Kannada)
"Talk in Kannada or get out"
"Is your mother .englad .?
"& more ."
Though I can understand, I cant speak much in Kannada.
I didnt want to get into all this kannada matters because I know, my problem has
nothing to do with any language.It is just service issue between a customer and a firm.
I stopped the conversation.I dont want to degrade my self, speaking to these junk creatures,
Who take language, caste, etc for personal advantage.
Later I got the number of AE from another source and called him.
"Sir .my fuse is removed .?
"Have you done the payment?"
"Yes, there was a delay, now the amnt is paid, When can you put my fuse back"
"It will be done today by 5.00 PM"
"Thank you sir"
I left the place,
Night 9.00 PM, No power .Again I went to there office,
This time, I used all my PR skills soaped a man(Very kind fellow) and made him
come and put the fuse.He asked me Rs.50 I paid Rs.20 because I travelled in his scooty)
Next 2 days no issue.
Again the fuse was removed after 2 days when no body was there, I went to the office again.
This time also AE was not there,
Let me explain the way this office works, Here the AE has distributed his power to every one,
All the meter readers, other workers will surround you and ask
(Kannada)
"what is the matter"
.I English.Ans told the issue
"Again the leader of the Kannada group(Meter reader)"
"Hey you are the same fellow, Are you English.? yourt mother .Talk in kannada or get out"
"some thing abt my mother and english etc"
"Talk in kannada, Else just put your meter number and leave the concerned person will come and address"
If you start arguing any more, the
whole group will start coming to you and abuse you.
After repeated calls the AE arrived at 3.00 PM,
He also joined with the group and abused us .
They all made the story in such a way that I went to there office and
making nuisance . knd of stuff.
There is no discreetion between the AE and sweeper.
The story is still lengthy I dont want to write the entire stuff.
My conclusiion is like this(Take away point)
You will find that in Bangalore, Fuses will often get removed for late payment.
Without any warning, The guys who does that are the meter readers.
Then the customer will run here and there and catch hold of the person who removes
the fuse and pay him Rs50(approx), to put his fuse back.
This entire process will go very smoothly, because no body wants to make a fury with
a essential service govt department.And they want power back at there home.
This gets even more smooth, with a large number of outsiders & non kannada speaking population.
The meter reader guy will get atleast, 100(homes)* 50= Rs, 5000
every month.For BESCOM It’s a way of giving incentive for its employee.
And they will get all the bill amounts collected in time without any hassle.
The meter reader guy always waits for his turn
If there is a cost involved in the whole process of disconnecting and connecting, Why
cant the BESCOM add it in the customers Bill.And why cant they keep a proper process on this.
Who gave the bill collectors authority to collect and pocket money in this episode.
Only authority to blame here is the BESCOM.
They way the BTM office funtions it gave me a feel as if a local mafia is running there,
& collecting the profit from all areas and sharing them equally among them.The AE there, when I asked his name he doesnt tell.
He answered, Why I require his name.
And in Bangalore, Many govt department employees make there way on customers pocket.
Especially into people from other states.When questioned they will easily
make a linguistic kannada flavour to there cheap business.
And there are also fools who gets carried away with there episode on kannada.
Moral of the story is "This is a country of inequality and injustice, You better be powerfull
or keep your head down always and never open your mouth".
In my case, the meter guy removed the meter second time, even after the payment because he was desperate to get his 50, He was fedup because the energy he spend in removing the fuse has got in vain.
What a pitty govt department and its employees.?