Ever since Mahabali allowed Vaman to measure three paces of
land, Indians have had a torrid time establishing proof of their presence in
this world. I discovered how difficult it was when I got my passport reissued..no touts, agents or brokers. Twenty years ago when I still had the
patience to stand in a mile-long crowd after I had taken a 9.30 appointment to
present myself to the passport officer, I took for granted that this was quite
normal, in a country that had close to a billion people. Now, who would expect an organization like
TCS to come along and queer the pitch even more? Now, you need to go through a whole series of
steps, which is typical of any system that has been automated by computer
professionals. And like the endless loop
that I would subject my ‘Pascal’ programs to, I find myself back to square one
every time the authorities determine that I have not proven beyond doubt, that
I am an Indian by birth, have a valid address, have no criminal record, or any
of the endless reasons they can find to deny you a passport.
While I still do not have a passport, I feel quite elated at
having been able to submit my passport application and have it accepted by the
people at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). And
well, the Police Department will, I am sure, have their own little fun at my
expense, and so, the ordeal is not over
yet...or as they say, until the fat lady sings.
So, in case you are
planning to get yourself a passport, or renew it...here are some practical tips
(and applies to those in Chennai mainly):
1.
Fill up the application form – by far the
easiest part in this whole process.
2.
Get an appointment – If you are a regular train
traveller, you are probably familiar with this part...like the Tatkal tickets
your window of opportunity is roughly about 3 minutes. I have been informed by reliable sources that
it is easier to get an appointment at the PSK at Saligramam. Get all your friends and relatives involved
so at least one of you might manage to bag that elusive appointment. Unlike IRCTC, they don’t stop you from
logging on from more than one session with the same user id.
3.
Where possible, get an appointment for the early
hours...it is quite likely you will be sent back and forth for various
documents...so make sure you provide yourself with enough time to run around
for those documents. If you miss their
4PM deadline, chances are you will be sent back...and you have to take another
appointment.
4.
Don’t go by what the Document Advisor tells you
– you will need at least three documents to prove that you are a resident
Indian and your address is what it states it is. Here’s the tricky part – it needs to be
exactly a year old...to old...and they suspect you might have changed
residence...to recent, and they are sure you have fabricated proof of
residence.
a.
If this is a renewal, then the old passport
copy, of course.
b.
A driving license is also acceptable proof.
c.
A Bank statement – this needs to be signed by
the bank. Your bank statement needs to
show your transactions for the last one year.
They go through it like you have gone to them with the statement to ask
for a loan...not as if you are producing proof of residence. So, make sure there are sufficient
transactions (at least one every month for the preceding 12 months). Also, make sure the statement has
transactions till the day preceding your appointment.
d.
Electricity / Gas Connection – You need to
submit receipts which show that you have been in the same place for the last
one year. If you are one of those people
who don’t retain these documents, start collecting them right away...you should
be ready in a year’s time to visit the passport office.
e.
Income Tax challans – same story – show your
latest tax returns. If you are going
around April, then make sure you include an older statement too.
f.
Not to worry if you don’t have any of these –
just get a letter from your local MP or MLA vouching for your proof of
residence. This overrides any other
defects your other documents may have.
5.
If this is a renewal, make sure your passport is
in extremely good condition. Else go
armed with Annexure L – self-acknowledged that it has been damaged. You will find dozens of typists near the PSK
ready to give you a notarized letter for a fee.
It amazes me that the PSK is willing to accept a letter from a Notary,
who does not even know of my existence, but has signed a blank stamp paper, on
which this typist who sits right outside the passport office is willing to put
my name on...for a mere Rs. 300. So much
for authentication and verification!
6.
Again, if this is a renewal, and any detail has
changed since the last time you took a passport, make sure that you are
covered...this includes change of residence, marriage, you or your parents
getting divorced... I’m afraid I can’t help you with the entire list here...but
just be aware there is one universal remedy for all these states – a notarized
letter!
7.
Record of your Criminal History (or rather the
lack of it). This is the clincher...the
passport office should have had a record of that from the last time they
collected your data...but sorry, we were not so computerized then...and we
don’t have your data. So, could you
please get another notarized letter saying you have not committed any theft,
larceny or violence since the last time you got a passport? Annexure – I – the solution to this problem.
8.
Now, that you have all the documents in place,
make sure you make copies of them. Make sure you have signed on the copies
too. Now you are ready to get into the
endless loop.
9.
Get the documents verified – pray you don’t find
a document checker who has woken up on the wrong side of the bed...or thinks he
is more loyal than the king.
10.
Clear? Now wait to get called where you then
move to Counter ‘A’. They take your
photograph, scan the documents you have produced as proof, collect the fee and
assign you with a token number. Tricky
part – they just might decide that they will not scan one of the proofs you
have brought. Seemingly harmless...just
wait until you get to Counter B.
11.
So, when your token number flashes on the
dashboard...hurry to counter B.
Hopefully you will not meet the big bad wolf who is now dressed up as
the granny. It is near 5 PM, and she is
in a hurry to leave... the flimsiest of reasons is sufficient to send you back
on a document chase...
12.
If you can make it through Counter B then
hopefully Counter C should not be a problem...of course, always expect that
they will ask for an Annexure which you do not have...if it is not yet 4 PM
nothing to worry...you just need to run down and get a notarized copy...
13.
Oh wait, did I say nothing to worry...if you
fail any of the steps in the process...your endless loop begins...you will be
sent back to Counter A. That, of course
means you could trip up on any of their whimsical reasons again!
Fortunately, “Went to Passport Office” is a valid excuse for
missing a day’s work...even two. So, you
may not really have to be worried about missing a day’s pay.
I dread to think of the day when I only have an Airtel
Connection, Gas and Electricity privatized, and a Private Sector Bank which
only offers Online Statements...or more importantly how does someone who does
someone who does not have all of this, manage to submit three documents for
proof of residence?!!
May be when you are born, along with the birth certificate
they ought to give you three paces of land...which you can call your permanent
address, which will be returned back to the government when you die. And that should be sufficient proof that you
exist, are an Indian, have a valid proof of ‘residence’....not just some
useless self-attested notarized existence!
Like I said, my ordeal is still not over...wait for my
update...when the policeman knocks on my door! J
