Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Simpler Process Makes Passport Office Really Cool

Renewing your passport is not a hernia-inducing experience anymore. Yep, you just need to fill in the 2-page form, grab two recent pics, your NIC along with the old passport and head to one of the 6 police district headquarters with the applicable fees (between 400 and 700 rupees). Head back within a week and your new passport should be ready.

If you have an emergency then you may be better off braving the awful traffic and visit the PIO headquarters. There you will be greeted by some of the most relaxed public servants who are not exactly missing the big crowds of the old days. They are instead thinking about how to further improve the service.

Shouldn't we make them run the PMO?

12 comments:

akagugo said...

Run the PMO?
And why not the brand-new Water Authority as well? If within the next year we could find and repair the leaks accountable for the 51% of the wastage in our distribution system to bring it back to normal workd standards of 21%, would it be necesary to build a new reservoir to supply our population?
Jin Fei and Highlands will need a new reservoir, but if we don't raise our efficiency right now, we'll be starving within 15 years after completing the long-awaited Bagatelle Dam (that one will be bigger than Mare-aux-Vacoas). And let's not forget our talent wastage industry which keeps failing at recognising Rodiguans' resourcefulness - else, they'be dead from thirst since very long - in harvesting rainwater for personal consumption...

Kranti said...

And what about the water needs of the targeted 2 million tourists in a few years?
have you seen this film called the local serial "CWA Sahab ki Pukar". The story goes like this: Good waterfall in Jan-Feb, he (the actor)is happy like a frog croaking to his joy; for some months there is no news of the actor as all is well. Comes winter, still no problem. Then, teng tereng, he shouts from all the tops: drought is here, water cuts, there is wastage, leakage, illegal water user. Again, in Jan-Feb, lots of rain, he croaks, he jumps, he is happy. The story goes on. There is no talk of new reservoir, no talk of new boreholes, no schemes to convert river water into drinking water which will cost a few rupees, etc But who is interested in projects of a few rupees? What's in for deciders? policy makers? in small projects?

Anonymous said...

A maurice ena competition pou gaspilages - HRDC finne depense 30 millions 400 milles roupies pou organise fancy fair ou 24/7.

Donc mo penser besoin ajoute HRDC aussi lor la liste .....Passport office ti capave occupte zot un coup

Anonymous said...

How the hell can people spend 30 millions Rs on promoting a concept?

30 millions Rs is roughly one million US dollars! This country is amazing. I would like to know the ROI as well ...just in case I'm wrong!

Yeah, you are right Sanjay, we should get the PO to teach them a thing ot two on efficiency and effectiveness!

Anonymous said...

I renewed my passport not so long ago, it was a speedy process as you describe, the form is really short!

Haha HRDC spending 30.4 million.......not a day goes by in the country without wastage news!!
30.4 million to just popularise a concept? Whats teh deal with these people anyway!

Anonymous said...

A propos gaspillages dans Maurice -mo penser ca necessite un blog speciale ca!

@ anonymous December 2, 2010 9:59 AM:

Zordi meme lor radio p dire ki chaque month 50 cases of AIDS p record a maurice - un chance HRDC pas occupe ca sinon zot ti pou finne depense 30 milliards juste lor prevention. Zot(HRDC) p depense 30 millions juste pou faire passe un message - pas ti capave done ca argent surplus training grant la pou autre chose cotte capave faire un difference? ca largent la li largent employeurs et employees ca, pas finne gagne comme ca meme ca! mo trouver zot fine paye 8 millions a banne artistes!

mo penser li interessant ki nous applaud passport office pou so efficacite....banne parastatal bodies dans Maurice ti va apprendre un peu avec zot!

Sanjay Jagatsingh said...

Passport now delivered in 4 days! Go Passport office! Go!

akagugo said...

MRA is also catching up on efficiency: 92% of tax-payers opted for e-filing: WOW! There is enough ground to believe that when some state department is actually allowed to work freely with competent persons, things tend to work out very well. So, why this simple logic not duplicated elsewhere, where it is most badly needed, like the MITD, STC etc these days.

Sanjay Jagatsingh said...

We definitely need more efficiency in a lot places. Our land use is one of them. Policy-making is another.

akagugo said...

The UK needs to copy from us: half a million of backlog that they have to clear...

akagugo said...

Wow. “Design has a natural role in helping express what country or culture you are a part of”.
And I'm sure we have a very distinctive one too.

Sanjay Jagatsingh said...

And here's how I express the country I am part of.