Bureaucracy in IGNOU

I decided to become student once more and pursue a course in Hindi literature. I opted for a more convenient IGNOU course of Masters in Hindi (MHD).

After a wait of 4 months since I submitted the form, I got a letter that my course material has arrived and I can collect it from the centre.

I thought of making a study group and went ahead to ask for email ids of the students in same course. Knowing quite well that the number of students would be in single digit, I did not see any issue in creating a study group. But what I experienced was way beyond my imagination.

In a proper bureaucratic set-up, I was asked to get permission from the regional director to fetch the email ids of students in that course. The office of the Regional director was on first floor and was guarded by his secretary. I was informed by the lady that ’sir’ was out for lunch and I can meet asstt director instead. One of the Astt directors found my idea interesting and asked me to go ahead. Alas! His intercom was not working and he could not call up the clerk so I was asked to ask the clerk to call him up.

But as usual, clerks found themselves above AD and could follow instruction only if it comes through the pens of the supreme Regional director.  He did not delay in informing me that the director is back from lunch and I can go and meet him. 

Once again I was face to face with the lady secretary. This time she had other argument – ‘Sir’ got into a meeting immediately after his lunch and the smile on her face went beyond control as if by stopping me from meeting the director was the best job she has done in the day.  Probably she is being paid to make the life difficult for anyone who tries to meet the director or she wanted some other deal to be stuck for the meeting to take place – I do not know.

Back to the clerk and in spite of telling him that I have approval of the AD, it yielded nothing for me.

I just picked up my material and walked out, fumbling and trying to give him a piece of my mind – but he was his usual self – finally he achieved what he wanted – a bureaucratic set up where clerks reign.

~ by Prashant Singh on October 18, 2009.