ORDER IN GREEN AND WHITE 

“Issue me a ticket for self alone, exchanging this concession order” demanded the orthopedically handicapped person shouted at me some 25 years ago when I was a Booking Clerk at the Hubli Railway station of the then “South Central Railway.

Railways are generous enough to extend their concession on fares on multi various issues, at times, depending on which party is in power.  One such concession in force is that the orthopedically handicapped person along with an escort is given 75% concession and it is enough if he pays 25% fare for a second class provided he tenders a valid certificate from competent doctor of his deformity and travelling with an escort is must.

“Travel with your escort or not, it is immaterial for me; you have to pay for two and take the ticket” I convinced him.

“That is none of your business.  I can travel o my own; See the deformity is in the small finger of my left hand. Why should I need an escort.” He retorted.

I viewed the serpentine queue extending for a k.m. and the train was expected anytime within ½ an hour. Passengers behind him started shouting.

Original orders were, the deformity should be below the knees of such and such percentage and due that handicap the persons cannot move of their own. But many a doctors ignorant of rules or for some other monetary benefits are issuing such certificates for non genuine people also.

 “Take this and leave my counter” I threw away the paper and asked RPF man to remove this person out of the queue.

He went inside, met the Station Manager and explained him his tough time with the booking clerk.  Through the peon the Station Manager came to know that I was the counter clerk.  I was not in good books with him.  I used to update myself with the current rules in force and was well known as a Rule Master” of my office.  He wanted to teach me a lesson and waiting for the appropriate opportunity.  He justified the plea of the passenger is correct.

“Issue him a single ticket with concession; it is genuine. He can walk, entrain and detrain of his own; No escort need to accompany him and he can’t waste money on that score”   the Station Manager dashed against my cabin. The Chief Booking Supervisor, my immediate boss, pretending to be counting the cash of ten notes umpteen times, was enjoying the fun pretty well knowing that the Station Manager was battling in a wrong field with a right person, didn’t interfere for the reason that he will have to agree with me and left me to handle the situation of my own.

“Sir, I will issue but not on your verbal orders; I want the orders in “GREEN AND WHITE” (Since he is a Gazetted Officer he would sign with green ink).

“O.K. First clear the crowd and you can take my orders on departure of the train.” He left my cabin.

“Exchange the concession order for single ticket” an endorsement passed on the concession order which was to be submitted to Accounts department and on the record foil (Office copy) of the Blank Paper ticket and put up on the table of the Station Manager or green ink signature.

“That is good; you may be rule master, but obey my orders first” he affixed his signature with one eye looking at me like an insect.

“Poor man, you ate salt; you will drink water for this soon.” I exited murmuring.

Three months passed.  The station audit was due and a team arrived.   They used to conduct only a percentage check on Blank Paper Tickets issued.   For my good luck or to the bad luck of the Station Manager, the auditors found the single ticket issued for orthopedically handicapped person is not in order.  So a debit for the 75% of fare was raised for Rs93/- and that was to be admitted and cleared by the person responsible.

My supervisor took the debit note to the Station Manager for clearance. “arey yar,you could have told me the other day.” Thus saying he opened his purse.    

P.S :This is my own anecdote. I dedicate this simple piece to Sri. Sridhar, on whose postings on face book I pass on some comments daily.  Lured by his today’s posting “YOU WORK FOR A BOSS” , I wanted to make this as a foot note to my comment as “Boss Or Organization”.  After typing I found this to be too lengthy (lengthier than the posting) I  decided to post it on my wall. Kindly bear with me Sridhar.