Dear Miguel and other Goanetters, The case of corruption which I am going to relate is not a "hearsay" case but a real one. But let me state right in the beginning that I don't know the name of the officer in question nor the state to which he belongs - whether Goa or any other state. It happened to two adult persons (couple) who on 16/10/2003 were travelling by train from Margao to Londa (I have the railway ticket with me). Both at the information counter of the Margao Railway Station and at the ticket purchasing counter the couple was informed that for the Margao-Londa portion of the journey there were no reserved seats and that they (the couple) could occupy any places. It so happened. Soon after the train started moving a ticket inspector came, checked the couple's ticket and went away. When the train was nearing Londa he came again and demanded payment of Rs 50/- because the couple was occupying reserved seats. This was contested and, as he insisted on payment, the couple on their turn demanded a receipt. He said, "In that case it will be Rs 75/-". The couple retorted, "We will pay whatever you ask, even if it be Rs 1,000/-, but we want a receipt because we want to put in a claim at the Margao office of the Railway", to which he replied, "O.K., O.K., you don't pay anything but make sure that you get down at Londa"! What do you make of this? Is it not a clear case of the inspector wanting to pocket those Rs 50/-?
There are also however decent and helpful people. The same couple proceeded their journey from Londa to Bangalore and from here to Chennai. They alighted at Bangalore, visited some friends and, on coming back to the station to catch the Chennai-bound train, a nice gentleman approached them, told them exactly which platform they had to go to, accompanied them to the rest room and, when the train was about to come in, came to the rest room and directed them to the coach where their reserved places were located. And he did it without expecting anything in return. Praise be to him and to other helpful and disinterested persons like him. Jorge Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 9:09 PM I believe that postings based on hearsay do a great dis-service to society. Seb, please verify before you put it down in a posting. Lavish praise, be miserly with your criticism--well intended though it may be. I have worked for the Goa Government---and have been offered bribes from the very first month of service.When asked, some of the persons told me that they thought it was expected of them. It was an impression created by loose talk as you seem to generate. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
