Jaago re! the online initiative of Tata tea, that started off with a bang.
I was initially extremely happy & on the recommendation of a couple of friends signed up with enthusiasm in December.
Impressive is the only word I could describe the initial experience. The details were entered, form printed; information of dates etc. was prompt, being emailed, text.
Finally, the ground realities – Tried calling up the versova election office where vague postal address was given. The numbers were disconnected (probably bill not paid by the election officer). The reason of wanting to call instead of going personally was the expectation built up; metro work stopping/diverting vehicular traffic on an already One way. After a week or so, managed to get through – ” Bhavans College ke baaju mein, kisiko bhi puuncho”.
Off I went, vehicular traffic made it impossible to park, so back again.
A couple of a days later went in a Rik. A Q extending all the way back….After some 45 minutes, when my turn came, I was informed that this window catered to Versova 165 whereas I had to go to Versova 164. Hot, tired & having to go another place, I left.
Today March 17, 2009 went all geared up, dressed casually, carrying a Cap, in a rickshaw.
Saw the outside, people sitting……
After being shunted a couple of times; managed to get in the line at the correct window. There were a dozen & half people ahead of me, most of them carrying a sheaf/bunch of forms to my 2 forms:) Upon asking, I was told that they organized the forms in proper order & helped people (brokers or party workers in simple terms). After nearly an hour of standing in the heat, reached the window, with just one person in front of me; who had some 50 forms. And there was a discussion going on – “Date barobar nahi hai”; “School leaving certificate nahi hai”; “Ration Card mein Zaheer likha hai, idhar Zaheeda hai” – made one think whether the people named on the forms exist or not.
Finally a compromise was reached, when the party worker said – “Aap form acknowledge kar lo” mein yeh sab leke aata hoon! AND I am like WTF……
Anyway, MY TURN…..the gentleman gets up & disappears…….whilst I am just looking at the window & inside……
The long Q behind me starts shouting at me – “Where is he?; When is he coming?; What happened? etc” Anger & humor both hit me at the same time – I mean, how am I supposed to know….or answer any of these.
Finally I asked the other gentleman who was sitting on the table behind the window to get a sarcastic answer – “Aapke samne toh gaya hai! Insaan hai, thak jaata hai:) Great in just 1.30 min of work he is tired & we are supposed to stand outside in the sun:)
So, he returns, looks at my forms & informs me – these won’t work. Yeh sab internet wallah form nahi jalega. Politely & humorously utilizing my entire vocabulary of Marathi (25-30 word & 5 sentences) manage to understand the following:
1) Jaago re forms are for our use & not Election Office.
2) If you wish, you can attach 1 photograph on the form & 1 photograph on the other form (which they give) & submit.
3) You need to have a Pan Card or Driving Licence copy attached.
4) You need to have a Ration Card copy with your name or Passport Copy with your name for address proof.
DUH! DUH! Why both??? Pan Card & Driving Licence do not have complete address so the other is required! But If Ration Card is there, then why? – Names are unclear on the ration card:)
5) AND then you need to get a COPY of VOTERS CARD from any one in your building/society; since then only it become easy for them….
6) After all this you need to get all this attested by a Special Executive Magistrate – helpfully, if you do not have then they are sitting outside also!!!!
If nobody in the building or society does not have a Voters Card; then you cannot vote!!!!
So any way, returned after an enlightening 4 hours spent there. During this time was also tweeting this information, where in my friend @TusharG has the following advice
@anaggh The best way to get on to the Voters list is to go to Tehsildar’s office spend 30 min and walk out with list of requirements.
(Sure but it is not likely to be different than what this guy has given me)
@anaggh Next best go to your MLA, Corporator or MP’s office and ask them to help enrole you, no hassles.
(@TusharG Even worse, The F…..s are never available)
@anaggh Worst thing Jagore is doing is they arn’t informing that those who register after 1st Jan 2009 will not be alowed to vote in this election. They may not be able to vote in the Assembly elections later this year.
-
- Election Office for Versova Nr. Bhavans College D. N. Road
-
- EC Outside
-
- EC No shade, people sitting down
-
- EC down view
-
- EC office – Outside Form Filling & other assistance
-
- EC – Versova 164 window view
-
- EC – empty Window whilst waiting in the Q
-
- EC – Stacks of forms collected & kept inside
-
- EC office WIP (work in progress:))
-
- EC -WIP1 (working?)
-
- Election form acc to Election Office
It is surprising to see Jaago re! claiming 450711 awakened all india & some 105000 approx awakened in Mumbai with the target of 1 billion votes —— something is not working somewhere.
So there ends the story – Will keep this updated!!! In the meantime enjoy the photographs as well as the form!!!!
Related Websites : MumbaiVotes; Praja; Agni; NO Criminals
I write, review, rant, rave, on a variety of personal things. Call it Mindcasting. The written word has been my long time friend – jotting down thoughts based on what I read, heard, saw or recording my own experiences for later reference.
Anaggh I suggest you write about your experience to register as a voter to the Chief Election Officer Maharashtra and send a copy to The Chief Election Commissioner stating exactly what you experienced to make them aware of the difficuly a citizen faces to perform his’her democratic duty. After all this unless your name appears in the printed electoral rolls, which are printed and ready, you will be sent back from the polling booth on electon day, 30th April ffor us Mumbaikars. Unfortunately we are a nation of 11th hour activists. And our rulers treat us as secondcalss citizens who have to always prove our credibility. Otherwise why should it be so difficult to register as a voter and shouldn’t any one proof of residence and citizenship suffice? Jagore!
was thinking of enroling my daughter who has come of election age.Now I dont think I would want to.. Hope my name still comes with the old list..Also wanted to apply for a voters ID,as I dont have one. Not sure if it will ever be done..Anaggh, do what Tushar says.The election commissioner and the public must know about this.
Well, main toh voter id registration per kitaab likh sakti hu……….. 🙂
CASE : 1
I enrolled myself and my husband on Jaagore website. Surprisingly, Thane is not on their city list, so I did not get ERO details for thane. Wrote to jaagore in their feedback section. Finally got ERO details from them, attached necessary documents and requested my husband to submit it.
It was not as easy as I thought. That ERO office made my husband him go to some other office. Other office told him that documents have to be attested (he was carrying self attested documents as well as originals, which they could have verified). Nowhere on Jaagore instruction leaflet, is it mentioned that documents have be attested. Finally after a lot of struggle, he managed to submit application forms.
CASE : 2
Enrolled my boss and his wife on Jaagore website. Tried calling ERO to understand timings etc so that our office boy could submit application forms but there was no reply on their land lines. I tried at various time but no luck. So finally I sent required details with our office boy to the Worli ERO. They directed him to Matunga ERO and they in turn directed him Mahim ERO office. Mahim ERO office requested for neighbour’s voter id copy. Nowhere on Jaagore was mentioned requirement of neighbour’s voter’s id. That was end of it. I lost my cool and spoke to Jaagore representative. She assured to write back but nothing happened.
Later on I wrote to one of the jaagore founders and he replied saying that they are just facilitating this campaign; however, we have to be at the mercy of ERO to get names on the voter’s list. He advised me to check CEO, Maharashtra site and write to CEO of the Mumbai City (http://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in/ ). I got Chief Election Officer of Mumbai City Mr. Warbhuvan’s contact numbers from http://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in/dy_collectors.php .
Unlike others, he turned out to be a gentleman. Spoke to me nicely, understood my problem and asked our office boy to meet his assistant Mr. Maskar. Mr. Maskar spoke to Mahim, ERO office and sent our office boy there. Finally Mahim ERO accepted my boss’s form. However, they created trouble for accepting his wife’s form. Spoke to our office boy rudely and said “Maskar sahebani sangitalya mhanun form gheto” (I am accepting these forms because Maskar Saheb has told me to.) Again I started calling Mr. Warbhuvan / Mr. Maskar but both of them were not available. Finally our office boy had to come back. He was told to get my boss’s marriage certificate to support MTNL bill (in my boss’s name) attached to his wife’s application. Again this was something, which was not mentioned on Jaagore website.
While all this drama was happening, one DNA reporter saw it. He interviewed our office boy and got all details from him.
Next day I spoke to Mr. Warbhuvan again, he himself was very upset about the whole system. He requested me to send my boss’s wife’s application to his office with a promise that his office will submit it to Mahim ERO and give us receipt by Friday, 20th March.
It took 2 weeks of follow up by me and 6 visits by our office boy to various ERO offices and Mumbai city CEO office, just to submit voter id forms for my boss and his wife………………. Phew! All those who have gone to sleep while reading this…… zzzzzzzzzzzzz …………. Jaago reeeeeeeeee!!!!
Look guys Please lets give Jagore its dues. In the past four years the governemnt conducted 8 Voter registration drives and 4 Voter Card drives. Notices were handed over to Housing societies the drives were conducted at local schools and were specially kept on Sundays so that people could avail of the service. The drives miserably failed because we are basically arm chair activists.
At least Jagore has made us aware of our duties. It is a bit late now for the comming election but don’t be disheartened. After this election there will be renewed Voter Registration drives at that time be more aware and get your self registered with a much greater ease.
Jagore has woken us up. Now we need to stay awake.
I just manged to give my form in yesterday after dancing around various places for 2 months. I filled form 7 then was told to fill 8A. when I went back I was told that the xerox of my Ration card had to be attested. I had to search for hours on the electoral list on the Net to find my original page number and serial number. Then I had to locate a neighbours page number and serial number.
My experience was relatively hassle free…though I too had to go to the neighbouring office and not the one mentioned on the jaagore site!
But kudos to jaagore for kickstarting the initiative!
The abive is exactly why all of us must stand up against such things…We are a democracy and if we have to face such problems just for registering to vote…can we call ourselves a democracy?
Two options, relocate to Soeb’s ward or sojaaore!!!
Joke apart, as I understood, if one is already a registered voter than Jaagore has a different help to offer and to know if you are registered or not you may check on http://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in/
Is something wrong with my understanding?
my form was filled and submitted in less than fifteen minutes . . . so also with my family . . . and the staff was quick, polite and helpful . . . . our local youth did a good job by telling people in advance about attestation, documents, photographs, etc . . . . the party that they support will stand a chance to get my vote if they keep helping people like this . . .
small tips shared . . . .
. . . greet the staff on duty with a smile and a namaskar before commencing business conversation
. . . learn and use the local language – even if with errors – it works to lift the communication and mind set barrier
. . . dress down a little and tone down your personality – identify with the staff manning the counters
. . . if the lighting in the room is poor or fans are insufficient then empathize with them
. . . show abundant ignorance and ask for help and guidance – put your rights and privileges hidden away for a little while and show respect to the staff on duty for the knowledge they have of the subject
. . . remember that many of the staff on duty are not able to go to their places of residence (where they are voters) to get themselves listed because they can not afford leave and travel “just for this”
. . . be aware that many government employees have not been paid salaries and dues for months so their attitude may not resemble our own always
People – There have been mixed reviews on this post. To put it in the right perspective –
Jaago Re! concept, initiative has nothing to complain about. The communication – documentation needed; attestation; will we be able to vote this year etc. is where there is a problem. In a way, the expectation built, one felt left down probably.
Soeb – Thank you for sharing your good experience, however you, tushar & a couple of other friends are extremely clued in to such matters. I was writing on my & others who have always probably used peons, agents for lack of time, initiative; BUT with the awareness & time – thanks to activism; 26/11; recession – brings the hope that we need to change, which is where there is a serious delivery issue against raised expectations.
Shamik – Welcome! Finally got you to comment:) Both are not possible – Cannot afford another house in Soeb’s locality neither can Soojaare!
And there is nothing wrong about your understanding. Having lived in Mumbai for close to 30 years in two batches, maybe wrong but have never ever taken a ration card (since always felt that it is better for the less privileged to get access) & Passport, driving license, Pan Card have always been good enough. Some time ago had gone for the voter’s card but no luck. And yes the website is somewhat useful but not for me.
My only requirement from JAAGO RE! was that without too much of trouble, I could get the form printed, carry necessary documentation & submit the form. YES if acc to rules I could not vote, would definitely feel let down but the mistake is all mine for getting up at the last minute.
On the other hand, expectation from the Election Office/rs – signage, information, a bit of less red tape, duplication.
BUT NO GO!
Soeb – What can I say – Love ur comments, suggestions. tips – And best of all they are FREE:)
…..Always do so – U know me
…..Extremely proud of my 12 sentences, which work well, besides the 500-600 words:)
. . . Read pls – went in plain down to earth clothes & rickshaw though they could not see the rik.
. . . First comment to them empathizing; but the contract workers, should be happy to get this job, particularly in such trying times.
. . . How do you think, I got the info & photos???Duh
…..Problem except for 1 or 2 rest of the staff were in dire straits.
. . .Not my problem. This happens to a lot of people in the private sector for a lot of other things/issues also.
. . . Bullshit, let’s not live in the past. Now they get paid, maybe a little late at times just like the rest of us. And then nobody is holding a Gun to their head, let them leave & join the private sector, someone else can take their place .
I was planning to write on this issue myself Anaggh when I saw your note on Facebook. Couldn’t read it there though.
I think Jaagore is an excellent case of great advertising/ communication backed by a very poor channel support/ product.
I got my voter’s id card when I turned 18 in cal. It was very cool as both CPM and Congress workers would come to your houses and get everything done. That was the only home deliver available in Calcutta then.
That didn’t work at Bombay. So I took my wife and went to the registration office (a school at Bandra) in 06 itself. Didn’t make much headway specially because we didn’t know Marathi. Then I got a call to come to the office in a day’s notice. Couldn’t make it as I was abroad.
Then we sat quiet for 2 years. Wife and I got very incensed after 2611. Thought we must vote. We knew of jagore from TV. Went to the site, was very impressed, filled form.
Then got a response that these forms would have to be submitted in Feb or something without very clear directions on next steps. Net result? Still on arm chair leaving our fate to our maid and driver who possibly vote.