On paper, there are no agents or touts who facilitate appointments in the passport-issuing process. On the ground, the story's different — there are several instances of passport applicants seeking the help of touts to avoid getting stranded in the endless wait for appointments.
While applicants claim their efforts to get an online appointment have sometimes dragged on for months, travel agents and touts claim they can arrange a meeting with officials in 14-21 days.
Karuna Patil, who's working with an IT major, discovered this the hard way. When her company asked her to produce a passport as identity proof, she had to run from pillar to post. Karuna, from Shimoga, couldn't get an online appointment for over two months. Frustrated, she paid an agent in her hometown to get an appointment and got one within two weeks.
"This shows that agents have their way in passport services. The common man is forced to go through them," said Karuna's father Venu Patil , who came from Shimoga to Bangalore to assist his daughter.
Recently, the ministry of external affairs decided to make it mandatory for applicants to pay fees online while making appointments with passport offices on the web. But touts and agents are still able to set up appointments with the help of their contacts in the passport office.
Mohammed Azam, from Mysore, told TOI he tried applying for a new passport for himself and his daughter while trying to renew his wife's passport. "We tried to get an online appointment for the three of us, but the appointment letter had just me and my wife. I went to an internet cafe and tried to get the online appointment for my daughter, but failed to get one even after trying for two weeks. We went to a travel agent for an appointment for my daughter and he got one in just two days," he said.
Thanks to TOI for bringing ou this article. See how our country is using Technology and making life togh.
When such demand for slots exists, how is that online slot booking gets closed every day in few secounds. This iself shows things are not fine with PSK's and look at 4 centers for Karnataka state. Is this what we call e-governance???
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Adhaar as UID is Number, a card or both???
Confusion over whether the unique identity number is a number, a card or both, and concerns over UID and the National Population Register duplicating functions prompted the Cabinet to refer UPA-2's ambitious project to a group of ministers.
The Cabinet discussion on Thursday revealed that the ministerial panel was not immune from contradictory and blurred perceptions about Aadhaar, as UID is known, with some ministers saying they had received a card along with a number.
Those who voiced doubts about UID's format included coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, minister for social justice and empowerment Selja, minister for heavy industry Praful Patel and railway minister Pawan Bansal.
For more read here
Demand and Supply!
Talking of limited slots for appointments to enroll into Aadhar program or applying for passport is definitely a sore point among citizens. It definitely needs to be expand exponentially to meet the rush. I could only conclude it as capacity issue than anything else.
Recently my sister-in-law and my niece was able to apply for the passport as well as enroll for Aadhar number without having to use the touts. Off-coarse it was a great deal to book a slot for passport application.
Easier job is to criticize it. Most difficult is to suggest remedies that resolves the issues. Definitely a fit case for understanding the issues in PSKs, Aadhar enrollment etc.
Governance is not all about technology, ease etc. It is more about willingness to make it easy.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet an IFS officer Dr. Bala Bhaskar who was posted here at Indian Embassy in Washington DC. During the conversation he mentioned that during his stint as Regional Passport Officer, around 2008 he had organized Passport Meals across Andhra Pradesh. Basically instead of waiting for public come to Passport Office, he took the Passport Office to the public.
Passport Melas
So moral of the story, if you are willing you will find the ways to do it, like our BESCOM chief.
How will the PSK's will work for other small cities residents
As present system, one need to submit the documents at PSK's only which are four centers in Karnataka.
People are forced to travell by spending time & amount and greace the Touts & others in the chain to get the things done.
Earlier system was citizens residing in small towns / villagers need to visit their post office and submit the application, they generally get the passport in 40 - 60 days. Offcourse their were some issues like people were able to get the illegal passport in this process.
As technology is made available thru Telecom revolution, required data capturing for Passport should have been enabled at all Dist Hq of every state either at Head post office at each Dist Hq. Then after data capturing, applicant need to submit the passport application in same designated post office. As the demand for passport other then the Bangalore will be less, so the people could have easily applied for the passport.
New system is centralised one with online data base, it needs to mature and my feeling maturity is very slow in this case and with 10 years passport shelf life, I am affraid, demand for passports will increase with renewals.
So effect is IT enabled process passport is helping integration of higher activites in the chain , but making people at the lower end struggel who can't use technology.
Aadhar Confusion - Wish Ministers and others had read this?
Wish UPA ministers and others who are flaunting ignorance had read this on UIDAI website.
If Aadhaar is number, proof of ID Card as Aadhaar
See the Railway Cicular on Unique Idenification Card as Aadhaar
http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic_comm/Comm-Cir2K12/ID_Proof_AC_Class_CC_4_2012.pdf
Look at the Confusion : Aadhaar is suppose to be number, but Railway calls in its 16th Jan'2013 public notice for proof of ID as Aadhaar Card for Train Journey.
Now how is that Aadhaar will be validated if its number to make / prooof identity, that means you need good broad band network to validate the number online every time.
So Aadhaar is going to be joke and its not mandatory for any of the things and worst logic is Aadhaar will store all info of other proof, but other proofs like Voters card, PAN Card, Passport, DL will not get linked on their own. So less we talk, its better on Aadhaar.
Misplaced concerns!
Aadhaar is suppose to be number, but Railway calls in its 16th Jan'2013 public notice for proof of ID as Aadhaar Card for Train Journey.
The reason could be as the UIDAI is not only providing the Unique number but it is also providing the individual ID like card with photo, name, date of birth.
If you ask me this should be more than enough for Railways/Bus Transports to verify the bonafides of the reserved individual. Dont't expect TTE to run an Aadhar authentication for every passenger. It's neither practical nor recommended.
Now how is that Aadhaar will be validated if its number to make / proof identity, that means you need good broad band network to validate the number online every time.
First of all service providers doesn't need to authenticate Aadhar number every time an individual seeks the service. If you are expecting the Fair Price Shop needs to authenticate Aadhar number of the consumer every time he shops, than that is a ridiculous design and model. The authentication should have been done at very beginning when the individual had applied for 'Ration Card'. Once it is issued after due authentication and verification there is no reason for authentication for every visit at point of service. It should work same as like Driving license, Bank Pass Book etc.
The answer to requirement of Broadband network for authentication is is given by UIDAI website ---> FAQs ----> Aadhar Authentication
"How can devices be connected to servers for authentication? Any leased line required?
Remote devices should be able to send authentication request to AUA servers over various types of networks – mobile network, PSTN, broadband. UIDAI mandates a leased line only between ASA and CIDR (Central Identity Data Repository)..."
So Aadhaar is going to be joke and its not mandatory for any of the things and worst logic is Aadhaar will store all info of other proof, but other proofs like Voters card, PAN Card, Passport, DL will not get linked on their own.
Well whether it is a joke or not only time will tell. PAN, Passports, DL's have been in existence before Aadhar made its entry, slowly I am sure they all will have Aadhar number as mandatory requirement. Aadhar is still making an beginning on national scene and as time passes, I am confident will become key identifier for issue of any Identification or services like Bank Accounts, PF accounts etc. Lets not confuse ourselves that Aadhar will phase out your PAN, EPIC, DLs etc. You will have all these but all these will be based on your assigned Unique ID.
So less we talk, its better on Aadhaar.
I disagree. We need to talk more. It is in our own interest to make it better, good and best. It is nobody's case that it is not laced with serious problems. It is. The solution doesn't lie in Junking this rather solution lies in plugging the loopholes, be its awareness, security, data integrity, vendor selections, its use etc.
In my brief interaction with UIDAI I have found them to be very prompt with answer to my queries. If we have any concerns, complaints, criticism and even sarcasm we should shoot a email to UIDAI. Their email address - help@uidai.gov.in and Complete UIDAI contact list is available @ http://uidai.gov.in/contact-us.html
Moreover it is your money and my money is in use.
Submission of Passport applications!
Per, Ministry of External Affairs Website, Passport application can be submitted at PSK (Passport Seva Kendra) or District Passport Cell in respective districts.
District Passport Cell Locator
Ex: For Chitrdurga
Disturbing News !
Source - Times of India
passport appointment thing - seems like a scam
Sanjeev mentioned this last month, and it seemed a bit much to be true. But now, that I am trying to get an appointment myself, I understand this better.
Three days in a row, tried to book appointments, online. 6:00pm slots available, 6:01pm - slots gone. But if you contact agents, they can help you with an an appointment.
The whole purpose of online/internet based system is to manage queues. What is the purpose of having a system that invites all applicants to log in at a fixed time - 6pm!? Why can't I log in, seek an appointment, and then be given an option to take the earliest available slot, or be asked to log in at 6pm in case I want a slot sooner.
The way it is right now, it certainly is inconvenient. Very likely that there is some "backdoor" for agents that makes them get appointments more easily than us.
Lodge an official complaint!
SB,
You must lodge an official complaint with the Regional PPO. Lets see what do they have to say if they reply at all. if not RTI, escalating with Ministry of External Affairs are open.
Every one who have faced this issue should lodge a complaint. It can not be left to work this way.
Koramangala, Bangalore,
Karnataka-560095
Fax: 080-25706124
E-mail: rpo.bangalore@mea.gov.in
Retaliatory Action - Compliant lodged with MEA!
A formal complaint in individual capacity has been lodged with MEA citing newspaper reports about retaliatory action by Bangalore Passport Officer.
Have lodged a complaint
Sent rpo.bangalore an email. Will see if anyone would respond.
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Dear Passport Officer,
We have been trying to get an appointment through your online system for last four days at 6 pm. But all appointments get exhausted in less that a minute. This is happening every day, with precision. On checking around, we came to know that this is a problem faced by many people. However, some agents tell us that they can get us appointments. Would you please let us know if there is a problem at your end in the online system? Or do these agents have a separate window?
regards,
Pranav
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Thanks Syed filing & Pranav for posting your 1st hand experience
@Syed,
Good that u have taken time to file Complaint with MEA.
Most of the Bangalore citizens are forced go thru' the Agents or use Tatkal scheme or stand in Que for submitting application as getting online that to at 6PM leaving all ur works or other things. Most of the people feel that pay some amount to agent and save this pain of online.
MEA officials should learn from IRCTC or Railways train ticket booking and Waitlisting concept. Even US Visa appointment taking online has improved so much over the years, its sorry state at MEA Passport Seva Kendra online mess.
@SB, did yoy managed to get an appointment?
SB,
Did you managed to get an appointment with Passport Service Kendra? Any response to your email complaint?
Yesterday I received a letter from Bangalore regional PO in response to my letter to MEA highlighting the issues. I am not sure how he got that letter and what prompted him to respond to me directly.
The content basically stated the same facts that he had given to the media. What was intriguing was his response to the complaints on online appointmnet system. Here is what he had say on online complaints:
"...with regard to online appointments, it is not known why officials of this office are being blamed for non-availability of online appointments and touts/agents being able to secure them. it seems to be deliberate misinformation by touts/agents who extort large amounts from applicants claiming that they are able to secure appointments with the help of the passport officials...."
It seems he is very annoyed with my letter to MEA. In the entire letter he could not offer any assurance or promise of any action against the malpractices. He basically washing his hands off saying, for online appointments don't blame me. If he is not to be blamed who else should be blamed? If he can not take step to correct the processes who else?
-Syed
TCS's reputation at stake
Incidentally, Vinnie herself managed to get an appointment to renew her son's passport last October, after a month of repeated attempts. She was offered an appointment by touts for a fee of Rs 1,000.
"Each appointment lasts about 15 minutes. The appointment timings are from 9am to 4pm. So, according to my calculation, a single officer must be interviewing about 30 people a day. This is a far cry from the passport office saying about 500-600 appointments are scheduled on a single day," says Vinnie Louis. "I'm also curious to know how touts are able to fix appointments so quickly and we can't, even after trying for months," she added.
Passport officials admitted to TOI that some people (touts) have created an artificial demand by booking appointments in advance, adversely affecting genuine passport seekers.
"The ministry is planning to implement the measure soon as it would help keep touts at bay," said acting regional passport officer L Madana Kumar. "Those who haven't been able to get appointments after repeated attempts also have the option to visit the Koramangala RPO and apply for a tatkal appointment."
For the full report in the ToI, click here.
I personally know of two recent cases where appointments got fixed through touts on payment of Rs 800/-, after repeat attempts on the net failed. So, things haven't changed any from Feb/ March when Syed and Pranav lodged formal complaints. Can't imagine how this is going on so openly.
Applying for a tatkal appointment at Koramangala RPO is worse than waiting in the queue for a ticket to an IPL match between Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings.
Incidentally, when I suggested, in another forum, that "compilation and maintenance of voters' lists" should also be outsourced to professional organisations like TCS, some pseudo-Socialists tried to palm off the blame for the 'appointments fixing issue' onto TCS. And, the problem is that there are enough people who will believe it. When checked with sources within TCS, it came to light that they can only do what is mandated by the Passport Department, and fixing it shouldn't be too difficult a job, if told to do so. The question that arises is "can TCS afford to remain silent, when their reputation is at stake?"
size of the cake
After reading all the posts and reports on the passport renewal experiences, I was looking forward to experiencing the process myself, with my passport validity coming to an end.
The e-form filing on the net, and getting the ARN was a breeze. And, with PSK (passport seve kendra - I chose the one located at Sai Arcade, Devarabisanahalli - next to Novotel, on the Outer Ring Road) process allowing for walk-ins for senior citizens between 9.30 AM and 10 AM on any working day, that too was absolutely smooth for me. The A section (handled totally by TCS) was most impressive. B & C sections handled by department staff were a bit slower - but, with a senior TCS officer walking around and guiding the applicants, nobody can have much to complain here, either. I expect I should be getting my renewed passport within two weeks max.
While in the queues, here and there (not too long), I got to talking to other applicants (non-senior citizens), and learnt that most had managed the appointments through agents.
Now, a PSK apparently handles 600 applications daily. Assuming that, of the 600, half (on a conservative note) are fixed through agents at Rs 800/- each, of which Rs 500/- reaches the fixer-in-charge (who has invariably to be a senior government official), it makes for a harvest of Rs 1.5 lakhs a day. In a 300 working-day year, that will then amount to Rs 4.5 cr. For 37 passport offices across the country, each with 3 PSK's, that would then amount to nearly Rs 500 cr a year - small compared to a railway contract, but certainly big enough for the counterpart of Pawan Bansal's nephew type working with External Affairs Ministry to appoint Passport Officers.
And, to think that it goes on so openly!!!
hot potato?
“Nearly 28,000 appointments will be generated at 6.30 pm on May 23. Also, the appointments will be released 21 days earlier (for 25 per cent of the appointments) in seven-day cycles instead of the present three-day and two-day cycles,” said Reddy. He said a total of 1,660 appointments are being released at present across all the PSKs.
Besides, tatkal applicants will now be allowed under walk-in category starting from May 23, he said. They do not have to visit the passport back office for an appointment and can directly walk in to the nearest PSK with Application Reference Numbers between 9.30 am and 11 am, he said.
For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here.
Sounds a bit complicated - this bit about 25% appointments, etc. Can't see why it can't be made straight and simple. The reason may be that if they do it that way overnight, it will become too obvious that the earlier arrangements were all fixed for making money on the sly. So, by dismantling it in steps, they are perhaps seeking to convey the impression that the process needed a lot of re-working.
I am assuming here that the johnnies involved have realised that the game has become a hot potato, with both the media and the social media latching on to the goings on. And, perhaps, TCS played a role too. Whatever, the civil society could do well to remain vigilant.