That man can have an easier life

In the scorching July heat, a man walks on the footpath headed to his destination with files clutched under his armpits. His demeanor and his strides were of a much younger person but the broad daylight revealed the lines of wrinkles and lumps on his face indicating that he was no less than a 70 year old man. And when I looked around I saw many such old and middle aged people walking about with paper files clutched under their armpits heading toward the post office, photocopiers or to any yellow walled office of a government official. Their mannerism and their stiff style of walking indicated that they are retired  government officials. Then my thoughts jumped to the bad, yet in some way comical situation of our country. The officials were known to be corrupted and so were expected to roam around in land cruisers. Yet this man climbed out of a rickshaw, argued with him over few rupees and headed towards a photocopier. He may have walked at least a mile to save his auto fare. So all I could relate him with was with an honest ex officer who is now, despite his old age and tiring limbs is doing some paperwork, perhaps for himself or for anyone in his family. That meant he is not very well off and is maybe living on a pension. Than my thoughts wandered on his income and on several honest people who live and survive on income the state provides. Anyone can guess now that the man may not be very well off or has to be a real penny pincher. Funny how my thoughts shift from one place to another? Any how, so I was wondering exactly how much does this state provides to them? And even today how our state relies on photocopies and paperback system. Where was the term of the world becoming a global village? It sure was not only restricted to private sectors? Now that sir, is pure discrimination. And one thing I have most commonly noticed is why in the world are they not carrying around their data is some sort of electronic backup? Using technology should actually cut costs in the long term and can make the life a lot more easier. Digitized data processing and transaction systems are now being adapted everywhere and manual and unnecessary paper work is being minimized. And we have brilliant minds here who can perhaps, make another pentagon? Or maybe better? Of course I am not raising my question to our intelligence I am sure they have their sophisticated machines in full running order. Our local departments for their data storage, that's another story.

Let us look at the other side of the picture as well. Maybe the the older people, who are capable to bear the rush hours and the dusty streets like a healthy middle aged jogger, are not willing to adapt themselves with the technology thus giving the government an excuse to not update their database systems. Probably harsh and immature coming from a 17 year old like me but my own grandpa is a retired official and I know how rigid he is on his old school methods of using paper systems. And his reluctance to learn technology is not due to his inability but his old school method of having a typist at hand. It can get pretty annoying at times, trust me. Such rigid demeanor is been adapted by several other retired and current officials. What I believe is the inability to embrace a new technology can in a way hinder one's progress. And not necessarily technology, any change that can in long term benefit the society. That progress is pretty slow here in majority of the regions.

This could have made that mans life a lot easier. Maybe he was going about doing his personal business but there are many I see everyday heading in a government office buildings with paper files tied with bands. If you want an explicit evidence than go to a rural area. Lack of awareness is giving the old as well as young natives a supposed misconception of embracing evil and wrongdoings of the society. Violence, corruption, counterfeiting on one hand, at least make the legal job a little convenient? Maybe this way you can finish your legal work fast and thus get more time to do illegal work? At least it may benefit the society. It might help that man and many other such commoners who with their rightfully earned money are spending it wisely on their households. They can save themselves the burden of doing the legal work the hard way. How hard can it be?