A special filter coffee!

Had a coffee at this stall at chennai domestic terminal. I didn't see this board stating it is a special stall (with ordering instructions) nor did i realise i am talking to a specially abled person at counter who couldn't hear/speak. I was a bit embarrassed of how i have become insensitive of others over years.

It has been years since i interacted with someone who couldn't hear. I had a childhood neighbor and friend with whom i used to interact and learnt a bit on how to use sign language. Over the years i lost touch with him once we moved out of my town, and also forgot to use it.

For a few moments all those memories flashed over my mind while I was enjoying the filter coffee delivered by him. It was heartening to see companies/startups being inclusive of everyone in the society!

Unexpected Guest On a Sunday Night!

Last Friday I applied for passport for my mom and my son. I filled the entire application online, it was a seamless, I pre-booked the appointment. I went to the passport office few minutes before appointment time. We were allowed inside immediately, it was hot summer afternoon, thanks to the air conditioned office.

All the processes completed within half an hour, they had facilities to photocopy our document at minimal charges. The office had facilities for potable drinking water, clean rest rooms and Cafe. Though all of the above I have already experienced few years back, I felt that process have improved much faster. I received instant SMS alerts on my status of the passport application even while I was applying.

My son's passport did not require police verification so I got the message that it got approved. For my mom since it was a fresh passport and without dependents passport as proof it required police verification.

I got Email and SMS alerts that the police verification has been initiated on saturday afternoon, but no other followup happened and I totally forgot about it.

Few minutes back around 9:00 p.m. Sunday night I heard someone ringing my calling bell. I opened the door and there was a tall guy in plain clothes, he enquired my mom's name and said he has come for verification. I welcomed in home, offered him water which he politely refused.

He spoke to my mom, cross checked the details and took a photo of her and signature in a tablet. I asked him if he worked on sundays, he said yes and infact his duty started at 7pm. He is part of local intelligence. I enquired about the working conditions and nature of work, it was interesting. They were busy with election secutiry as well. He didn't show any sign of looking for a bribe as we would usually assume/think. He politely excused himself and left. 

Two things i wanted to convey from this post. One, hats off to passport services and TCS for making it seamless process with absolutely no bribes or kickbacks and making it totally digital with tablets and online.

Next hats off to the police officers working day and night to keep us safe and secured even though they are under-staffed and over-worked! 

#Passport #Police #HashJag #TCS