My opposition to colas (Pepsi and Coke) stems from my ideological beliefs. I have for long believed that consumption of these drinks should not be encouraged. Moreover I strongly believe that people (mostly) do not drink them to quench their thirst but to make a statement. The attempts to ban the use of colas in my college campus were met with stiff resistance. The canteen people told me that they will better shut down the shops rather than stop selling colas. Frustrated by their reluctance, I approached the members of my college canteen committee. They were sympathetic towards my views but were not ready to issue necessary directions to canteen authorities. The canteen committee members asked me to support my claims with evidence. I started searching for newspaper reports regarding this matter. I got one in “The Hindu” dated Thursday, Dec 21, 2006 in this address. It very clearly noted that – “Mr. Ashok said the Government, which issued the earlier ban on soft drinks on August 9 under the Food Adulteration Act, withdrew it on December 15 because of legal problems. Now it had imposed the ban under Article 162 of the Constitution that provided executive power to the State in certain matters “ But the canteen committee members were not ready to act on the newspaper report. Fair enough, I thought. I then tried to persuade canteen authorities explaining them the negative effects of soft drinks on the health of people. They seemed to be very obliging when they listened to me. But to my utter disappointment, they continued to sell colas. I then thought of tacking the issue at a different level. I tried contacting the distributor who was supplying colas to our canteens. That guy talked very rudely to me. When I told him that there was a ban he contested saying it was withdrawn. I tried explaining him that earlier ban was under different act and now the fresh ban is imposed from December 18, 2006. He was adamant and was having the proof to prove his point. The proof happened to be a newspaper clipping about lifting the ban. When I tried to tell him that after this there was a fresh ban, he was in no mood to listen. What followed was a heated argument between two of us. Then I firmly resolved that I should take this issue to its logical end. I had to get hold of that Government Order dated Dec 18. I started looking for the website of Health and Family Welfare. I was not able to trace it. So I devised a algorithm (after all I am a Software guy!!) to track the Government Order (GO) which looked like - - Contact THE HINDU office and speak to journalist who filed the report which I referred above
- If I don’t get the GO there, go to all major Government Hospitals in Bangalore (Because the same report said colas were banned in Hospitals also)
- Go to Vidhan Soudha and contact the Health Minister
- Contact Chief Information Officer
So, today morning I started out with this big plan. What happened in the day, I will record in chronological fashion – 9.45 AM – I was in THE HINDU office. The security person asked me to wait till 10.00. I waited till 10.05. He then asked me whom I wanted to meet. I did not know any name. I just said I wanted to meet any reporter. He asked to come after 11.00 because everyone comes to office only at that time. I had time. So I went to next spot 10.30 AM – I reached BOWRING & LADY CURZON HOSPITAL. I was inside this place for first time. Not knowing whom to contact I just wandered a little reading the boards. Surprisingly I saw a board which read “May I help you” just left to the main entrance. I wanted one desperately, so I went to that table. There was an old gentleman who was reading files there. I asked him what I wanted. He answered me very nicely telling the directions to the administrative block. I went to the place. People were hardly seen in the chairs. One elderly gentleman nodded his head in negation when I questioned him about this GO. I asked him whether they sell colas in their campus. He said there is no question of that because Hospital does not have a canteen!!! 11.00 AM – I reached Vidhan Soudha. Today is the Budget day. I was told to meet the SI to get permission. When I went there, there was a long queue of people who wanted to get in. Police there were asking for passes. I thought I should go back because I did not have one. But I just remained in queue hoping for best. When my turn came I explained what my intention was. The police let me in. I was very happy. But when I reached the main entry point, I was told that no ministers would be present at this time because of assembly session. The police there also was very nice to me. He told me to come back at 3.00 and told there should be no big hassles in meeting the minister. 11.30 AM – Since I had time, I thought of going to VICTORIA HOSPITAL. Now I knew where to go. I landed there and asked directions for administrative block. The Secretary of the hospital entertained me and heard my story. He sent me to concerned person in the office. But the lady in question was not there. Apparently she had gone to attend a marriage function. People there promised me that she would be back at 2.00. Despite the wait, I had some good news in store here. The secretary confirmed that they have that GO. So I was ok with waiting 12.05 PM – I knew that VANI VILAS HOSPITAL is adjacent to this one. So I thought of visiting that place. If VICTORIA had the GO, I was confident VANI VILAS will also have it. On reaching there, I just checked the hospital canteen. To my relief there were no colas in the display area. Happy and elated I went to administrative block. I met a very interesting fellow there. He showed keen interest in the matter and ordered his subordinates to give me the information. I asked whether I should apply for the info under RTI. He said no it was not required. We discussed lot of philosophy! Meanwhile his junior got the file. That contained the office order and not the GO. After receiving the GO, the hospital had issued orders to its canteens to stop selling colas. But I wanted GO. The man there was helpful. He traced the file number which contained this GO. He then asked me to go to Directorate of Medical Information as they are the nodal agency. 12.45 PM – I thought I will go to BANGALORE MEDICAL COLLEGE. I knew that should also ban colas in campus. To my utter disbelief the staff in the college said such orders would be lying somewhere in dustbin as no one cared for them. Asked why such negligence towards GO, he said they do not have canteen from past 3 months!! So where is the question of banning colas? 1.00 PM – I could make out that students and staff of BMC missed college canteen as I went to nearby restaurant for lunch. There were white aprons all around me. I had lunch and checked back at VICTORIA HOSPITAL 2.00 PM – The lady whom I was expecting in VICTORIA promptly came in. Being very accommodative, she instantly pulled out the file which contained the GO. I was in heaven when I saw the file. But unfortunately that was the Aug 14 order. I knew this was not GO I was looking for. But anyway I had some success. I asked for a copy of it. The lady told me just to write a request letter and get it attested by hospital secretary. I promptly did this and yes, they gave me a copy. I offered to pay for Xerox but they denied. A special mention has to be made about the staff there. They were really nice and respected my views. 2.30 PM – I came to HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE OFFICE situated in Anand Rao Circle. I managed to make my way to a swanky building which was labeled as “Information Centre”. The staff there informed me that this particular facility was not completely operational. But it looked great. When it gets going, I know where to go for such information!! They guided me to Personnel Department. I went in and checked with secretary to director. He said very confidently that PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (PHI) will have this information. I was just roaming around in that building when I saw the Directorate of Medical Education office board. I went there to enquire about this GO. The people there were not aware of this matter. They too directed me to PHI. So I started to proceed there. 3.00 PM – I just checked into Directorate of Collegiate Education. The manager there took trouble to check with all files and finally told me that they have not received any such order. So my last resort now was PHI 3.30 PM – I entered PHI asking for anyone related to HFW department. I was directed to many places. That place is filled with so much lab equipment that I was completely lost. Finally I was asked to meet one chief chemist. She happened to be very nice lady. When I told what I want, she promptly called and asked someone to get a copy of that GO. No RTI required? I asked. She said it was not required as it was published in Gazette. I was in seventh heaven when I received a copy of it in next 2 minutes. Finally I had the copy of GO which I was looking for. As I write this piece, the joy inside me is unexplainable. The PHI guys have told me to inform them in case my college authorities do not stop selling colas in campus. I feel my college administration will promptly agree. Or else I know whom to call!!!!! It has been such a rewarding experience. All the reluctance I had to approach bureaucracy is gone. I was mentioning RTI in all offices and people were reacting to it. It is a good sign. As in my case, in many places people do give information without hassles. I am happy to say that I did not pay even a paisa to get what I wanted. No one asked me for bribe. I think people in government offices are not all that bad as people say. I mean, my interaction with government machinery is very little but I think it’s not that brittle. What have I learnt from this episode? I now have very little reluctance to approach government offices for information. I know there are ready provided your approach is correct. Want to see the GO I have? Try yourself…….you now have an optimized algorithm!!!! |
