VERY rarely go to government departments. I only go when there is a pressing need or something directly affecting my life. Other than that, I never go to these places. I usually spend my day going to my newspaper office and then returning home. I know all the gas stations and traffic lights on this route.
A few days ago, I was obliged to go to a government department. I went very early to be among the first who could enter. I entered the building carrying a “green hanging file,” as I had been instructed to do. I put all the required papers and documents in the file, which I had bought from a bookstore outside the building. Note that the file has to be of the hanging type and of a green color.
My first frustration was when I realized that there is a wide rift separating us from the 21st century with a big difference in understanding, conduct, practice and performance between us and modern times.
The journey of agony began as I wandered through the corridors and offices inside. Every employee I met constantly asked me to complete my file by photocopying this or that paper. Work is still being done manually and through obsolete methods, which I thought we had long abandoned. These practices are no longer useful.
The electronic mode of organizing things has dominated the world and one can obtain the information one needs in a fraction of a second by the push of a button. I thought we had long buried paper, the hanging green file and hand-written instructions such as “for necessary action” or “according to regulations.”
These are stupid comments indicating that the official does not want to take responsibility or that he is unable to achieve a good administrative standard, which would make things easy for people.
There are still heaps and heaps of paper. Long queues are still formed in front of officials who are not up to the mark. We are losing precious time, the value of which we cannot comprehend.
