Indian Passport kendras, totally insensitive!

 

 

Computers, Tata Consultancy Services, online submissions of forms etc sounds fabulous. Those who manage get through the process are fortunate. They I believe are a very small minority.

 

Online submission is great for those who have access to computers . My wife had submitted an application on the 16^th of February, 2013. The next step was to get an appointment with the PSK (Passport Seva Kendra). We had login at 6 p.m. and solve a captcha and then click for a date and time. Even before one can look for a convenient date, the window closes and appointments for the day are over.

 

We have been faithfully trying to get an appointment since the 16^th of Feb. Finally my wife decided to apply for a Tatkal Passport. We were thrilled when we got an appointment for the 18^th March morning. As per the India Passport website my wife organised all the documents needed and  visited the PSK only to be told that there was a problem with the verification certificate and what was the problem, the stamp of the signing officer was not partly on her photograph. Next, came big news where was the bank statement for the past year? My wife protested and said that this was not mentioned on the India Passport website and pat came the answer, the website is not up to date.

 

Now the website also states that a Tatkal applicant can either take a verification certificated from a Civil Servant or carry 3 of 16 documents listed on their website. When my wife produced her Driving licens, Voter ID and PAN card again, the response was that this does not work any more.

 

In other words, what is provided on the Passport website  cannot be relied upon. Thousands of people visit the Passport Kendras on a daily basis and have to go back again simply because the website was not updated or some rubber stamp was put slightly off the mark.

 

While this modern facility is great for a lucky few, thousands spend a whole lot of time

1.       Trying to get an appointment

2.       Repeatedly trying to go back with appropriate documents

Why won’t people of the country want to use touts to get their work done? The sad thing is as a citizen, there is no where to turn for help.

 

Dreaming for a modern and progressive India

 

George

                   

 

 

Running the Marathon, an appeal for support!

　

　

Can blind people become part of our economy? Of course! Charudatta Jhadav is a senior software engineer with TCS at Mumbai, Sanjay Dang runs Le Travel World a leading travel company in Delhi, Dudhi behn runs a flour mill in Sayla village near Ahmedabad, Gautam Baruah runs a flourishing mobile re-charge business in Guvahati, Rajani Gopalakrishna is Chartered Accountant with Infosys at Bangalore, Garimella Subramanium is a senior editor with the Hindu at Chennai　　 and the list goes on. All　 these are extremely talented and successful people and　　 All　 of them are blind.

Hence, any　 kind of exclusion of blind people is not justified. "Infact we believe that Blindness is not the real problem, it is the mindset."

　 Score Foundation launched Eyeway, a Knowledge portal on life with blindness. Knowledge has　 the power to transform lives. It can impact attitudes, motivate and create awareness and sensitise.　　 Eyeway comprises the website www.eyeway.org, the weekly radio programme "eyeway, yea hai roshni ka karwan", an sms alert service,advocacy campaigns and a helpdesk. Our helpdesk reaches out to an average of 70 people each week from across India. We need to raise Rs.8 lakhs to run the helpdesk. Any kind of contribution that adds up would be deeply appreciated.

I am participating in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to raise funds for our Helpdesk. You can support my run by making a donation.

All cheques must be made favouring Score Foundationand sent to

George Abraham

Score Foundation,

17/107, LGF,

Vikramvihar, Lajpatnagar 4,

New Delhi 110024.



If you would like to make payment using internet banking, our bank details are given below

Account name: Score Foundation

Bank name: HDFC Bank

Branch: Panchsheel Park, New Delhi.

Account No. 02481450000198

IFSC Code: HDFC0000248

And if you want to pay online, then log onto



http://www.wishberry.in/George-Abraham-Running-Airtel-Delhi-Half-Marathon-for-SCORE-FOUNDATION-13868

Please note that all donations are exempt of Income Tax under section 80G

Thanks and regards,

George Abraham

CEO

Score Foundation

17/107, LGF,Vikramvihar,

Lajpatnagar 4,New Delhi 110024

Ph: 91 11 26472582　

　


　

Calling for your support

An Appeal For Support...

Can blind people become part of our economy? Of course! Charudatta Jhadav is a senior software engineer with TCS at Mumbai, Sanjay Dang runs Le Travel World a leading travel company in Delhi, Dudhi behn runs a flour mill in Sayla village near Ahmedabad, Gautam Baruah runs a flourishing mobile re-charge business in Guvahati, Rajani Gopalakrishna is Chartered Accountant with Infosys at Bangalore, Garimella Subramanium is a senior editor with the Hindu at Chennai and the list goes on. All these are extremely talented and successful people and All of them are blind.

Hence, any kind of exclusion of blind people is not justified. "Infact we believe that Blindness is not the real problem, it is the mindset." Score Foundation launched Eyeway, a Knowledge portal on life with blindness. Knowledge has the power to transform lives. It can impact attitudes, motivate and create awareness and sensitise. Eyeway comprises the website www.eyeway.org, the weekly radio programme "eyeway, yea hai roshni ka karwan", an sms alert service,advocacy campaigns and a helpdesk. Our helpdesk reaches out to an average of 70 people each week from across India. We need to raise Rs.8 lakhs to run the helpdesk. Any kind of contribution that adds up would be deeply appreciated.

Please note that all cheques must be made favouring Score Foundation. If you are making the payment using Internet Banking then the details are as under

Account name: Score Foundation
Bank name: HDFC Bank
Branch: Panchsheel Park, New Delhi.
Account No. 02481450000198
IFSC Code: HDFC0000248

Please note that all donations are exempt of Income Tax under section 80G

Thanks and regards,
George Abraham
CEO
Score Foundation
17/107, LGF,Vikramvihar,
Lajpatnagar 4,New Delhi 110024
Ph: 91 11 26472582

Apprehension Transformed to Aspiration

Last November, on the eve of the Delhi Half Marathon, several scary thoughtscrossed my mind. Will I as a blind 52 year old runner be able to complete the 21 kms? Can my body take the strain? Will my heart pack up? Will I be cutting a sorry figure? What will people say ? etc. However, as I slowly and steadily covered the distance and jogged across the finnish line in 3hrs and 7 minutes, my mind was thinking about how I could cut down my timing to 2 hrs 30 minutes and how I could bring in greater style and energy into my run in the coming year . Yes, the 21 kms run was truly a lifechanging experience inspite of the muscle cramping and the body aches.I am running 21 kms once again this year on the 27th of November. I am running this time to raise money for the Eyeway Helpdesk which informs,guides and counsels blind and visually impaired callers from across India. Lastyear the Eyeway helpdesk had attended to 1300 queries. In January, we have established theOriya Eyeway Helpdesk at Bhubaneshwar, and later this year we also will be setting up the Eyeway Helpdesk in Bengali. In the next 3 to 4 years, we do propose to setup regional Eyeway Helpdesks in every State in the country. Our dream is to be able to reach out to blind and visually impaired people and their families in the language they understand and are most comfortable with. The Helpdesk responds to queries which are a direct outcome of all our information disseminating channels on a wide range of issues like - Career Guidance, Education, Rights, Legal Provisions,Parenting,Discrimination, Poverty Alleviation programmes and so on.We need your support and encouragement to achieve our goals. We believe that information has the power to touch lives and bring about change.It is contributions from friends like you that motivate us and help us inch towards fulfilling our mission.Your cheques should be made favouring "Concern India Foundation" and sent to us at

Score Foundation
17/107, LGF,Vikramvihar,
Lajpatnagar 4,New Delhi 110024

Ph: 011 26472582

We are aiming to raise Rs.15 lakhs this year through the run to meet cost of running and expanding the reach and impact of our Eyeway Helpdesk. All donations will be exempt of Income Tax under section 80G of the IT Act.Thanking you in anticipation,Best regards,George
George Abraham
CEO
Score Foundation

Ps: Eyeway is a single stop "Knowledge Resource" on life with blindness. We believe that "The real problem is the Mindset and not the Blindness". Eyeway today comprises:
1. The website www.eyeway.org
2. The weekly radio programme Eyeway, yea hai roshni ka karwan in Hindi broadcast from 30 cities of the country.
3. The Eyeway Helpdesk
4. The Eyeway sms alert service
5. The Eyeway Training workshop
6. The Eyeway Advocacy Cell

Chasing two goals!

This year, I am chasing two daunting goals:

1. I am training to run the 21 kms Delhi Half Marathon on the 21st ofNovember. It is a challenge I am taking up. I would like to prove to myself and the World that I being visually impaired too can run the distance. I need your prayers and good wishes.

2. I also am working towards raising Rs.5 lakhs to support the Eyeway Helpdesk for the blind and the Eyeway radio programme which has been reaching out to hundreds of blind and visually impaired persons across India. Over the past 8 years, Eyeway has touched and changed the lives of many families and individuals who have been coping with the challenges of life with blindness.

I believe that it is small contributions from friends, relatives and associates that can make the big difference.

If you would like to donate online, then my "I Pledge" link is

http://concernindiafoundation.org/marathon/ipledge/ipledgepage.php?ipid=DC104&ipdetails=smgma2zvsg73vny

or if you are writing a cheque, then make it favouring "Concern India Foundation" and courier it to

Score Foundation
17/107, Basement,
Vikram Vihar,
Lajpatnagar 4,
New Delhi 24
India

Phone: 91 11 26472582

All contributions are exempt of Income Tax under section 80G of the IT Act. Also, please feel free to share this mail with others who might like to support my run.

Do look forward to hearing from you.

Love,

George

If Sport be the food of life, then play on

1. Blind people in India are passionate about their cricket: The year was 1989, the city was Dehradun, I was visiting the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped and was staying at their guest house. Was woken up one morning by the sound of cricket commentary. Kapil Dev bowling to Sunil Gavaskar... I promptly jumped out of bed and ran towards the grounds just outside my window and saw a group of blind kids playing cricket. The bowling was underarm, they were using a ball that made sound. The skills were good, the action was exciting and the passion was high. I was told that they ate, slept, talked, played cricket just like what one of Coca Cola ads said.
2. Focus is on the Ability and not the Disability: The year was 1993, the city was Ahmedabad and it was the finals of the 3rd National cricket tournament for the blind. The game was between Karnataka and Gujarat. A large number of curious spectators had gathered in the ground to see how exactly the blind play cricket. Soon the curiosity changed to engagement. They no longer were wondering how the blind played the game, they were wanting to know what the score was and how the various individual players were performing. Clearly, the focus had shifted from the blindness to the performance - the Ability and not the Disability.
3. The "mantra" to successful living" It was the great West Indies opening batsman, Conrad Hunt who said " I was born with a tripple handicap. Was born black, poor and not knowing who my parents were. Was growing up wild on the pavements of Bridgetown Barbados, till the time I started playing cricket and discovered the "Mantra" to a successful life. The 5 Ds viz Dream, Desire, Discipline, Dedication, Determination." The sport empowers and I believe that cricket that the blind are so passionate about does teach the blind a thing or two about life.
4. Being a contributer: I believe that it is your ability to contribute that establishes your niche in life, be it your family, your community or for that matter your country. A team sport like cricket does teach you the value of making a contribution. As long as you are able to contribute to the team's cause, you are part of the team. For instance, Yuvraj Singh who was once an integral part of India's batting line up in the shorter versions of the game is today on the fringe of being dropped. He has not been contributing. As John F Kenedy, the former American President had once said "Look at what you can do for the country, rather than what the country can do for you." As long as you are a contributer, you are in the thick of things. Life is about empowerment and contributing.
5. The real problem is not the blindness, it is the mindset: We at Score Foundation have setup Eyeway, a single stop Knowledge resource for living life with blindness. There are 16 million blind people in India and a further 28 million people living with Low Vision. Most of them live in the margins of their families, the community and the Nation.We are concerned about the mindsets of the blind people as well as the mindsets of the community. Eyeway connects with its stakeholders and uses information/knowledge to not only Inform but also to Inspire and Include them into the mainstream. We presently connect with our stakeholders using Radio, the website www.eyeway.org, a SMS alert service, a Help line, Audio books, training programmes. Now we are also looking at establishing cricket as a platform to connect with communities to empower the blind and help focus on their skills and abilities so that they become contributers.
If Sport be the food of life, then we must play on.
(Synopsis of George Abraham's-CEO Score Foundation Talk at the Sport for Development summit held at Mumbai on the 19th of May, 2010)

Table rocking with changes

The last week has seen a number of teams from the top half sliding down and teams from the bottom have been making their way up the points table.

Rajasthan Royals contrary to expectations have started a steady climb with three good wins. Lucky to see another Pathan blitz the other day when he hammered Deccan Chargers attack.

Kings XI Punjab however has not really had any such luck. In fact they have lost all their games and even that single win was a lucky break, thanks to the super over.

Surprising to see the Chennai Super Kings struggling inspite of their heavy weights. The other day they should have put it past Mumbai Indians. I think Suresh Raina and Badrinath did not quite hit the accellerator in the last couple of overs. The last over from Malinga just got them 7 runs. Given the situation, they should have gone hammer and tongs after the 17th over. They had plenty of batting left in the dugout.

The problem I feel with the Kings XI Punjab is not a cricketing one, it perhaps is player politics. Remember, Sangakkara was made captain after replacing Yuvraj Singh. Interesting to note that Yuvraj has not quite set the stadium alight with his bat. In this format of the game, a man like Yuvraj cannot be kept quiet for long.

Last Friday, the Indian team for the T20 World Cup was picked. Surprised to see Ashish Nehra, Piyush Chawla and Rohit Sharma's names in the team. Nehra has not been playing any cricket in recent times, Rohit has not quyite been keeping the scorers busy and Piyush Chawla has not really done anything to justify dropping of Amit Mishra or Pragyan Ojha. Vinay Kumar is a good choice. Manish Pande and the Tiwari from the Mumbai Indians could have been good in the side in place of Rohit Sharma.

We begin our campaign against Afghanistan, which is good. Gives the team some time to settle down before they take on South Africa in their second game.

Would really like players like Irfan Pathan, Ambadi Rayudu, Pradeep Sangwan and Muhammad Kaif to do well in the remaining games. Watson should be soon joining the Rajasthan Royals. He is a big impact player with his bowling, batting and fielding. Well good entertainment awaits us in the weeks ahead.