I have almost forgotten the way to the bank or even the record of transactions called-"Passbook " exists ever since I got my first salary and anywhere, anytime, easy to use "card".
When I was less than ten year old, I used to visit the bank with my father. At that age, I never understood why people considered the money to be safe at bank and how the bankers were gaining profit without charging any money for safeguarding ours! When I was in high school, my father considered I was old enough and taught me how to fill up the pay-in-slips, the cheques should never be signed in advance, the importance of crossed cheque , the entries made in the passbook should always be cross verified, etc...
Yesterday, I had some work at the bank near by which I had been visiting since my childhood with my father. I was given a token and had been waiting for them to call the token no. While I sat there at the counter and filled up some form, a lady in her middle age came to me and requested me to fill up the pay-in slip for Rs10,000/- handing over the passbook to me for referring the account no and her name. Though, the pay-in slips are printed in the three languages, Kannada , English and Hindi , for the ease of all people, the lady neither knew how to read or write any of the three languages except sign write her name in Kannada. After I filled up the form, I pointed at "Depositor's Signature" and asked her to sign. As I finished, another lady in her thirties approached and requested me to fill the form to withdraw the money from her account. She, too, handed her passbook to me to refer the correct spelling of her name and the account no. This lady also just knew how to sign her name in Kannada. The signature was more like written words rather than an actual scribbled signature like we do; which can be misused by anyone just by writing the name. When I handed over her book and the pay-slip, another aged woman was waiting for me to write hers. The token number was called and I ran to the counter.
When people who can't read or write request the clerks at banks, they are literally pissed off due to the work pressure and the mistakes that are made in the cheques... I was sad sighting these people who had to request others for each and every paper work involving money and blindly trust what others write on their behalf. Few of them even use the thumb impression on cheques :( Can't we do anything about it?
I thank my parents for providing me the best thing in life-the best education, the ability to read, write and communicate with others. I need not depend on others in such cases.
© Manasa. All rights reserved.
When I was less than ten year old, I used to visit the bank with my father. At that age, I never understood why people considered the money to be safe at bank and how the bankers were gaining profit without charging any money for safeguarding ours! When I was in high school, my father considered I was old enough and taught me how to fill up the pay-in-slips, the cheques should never be signed in advance, the importance of crossed cheque , the entries made in the passbook should always be cross verified, etc...
Yesterday, I had some work at the bank near by which I had been visiting since my childhood with my father. I was given a token and had been waiting for them to call the token no. While I sat there at the counter and filled up some form, a lady in her middle age came to me and requested me to fill up the pay-in slip for Rs10,000/- handing over the passbook to me for referring the account no and her name. Though, the pay-in slips are printed in the three languages, Kannada , English and Hindi , for the ease of all people, the lady neither knew how to read or write any of the three languages except sign write her name in Kannada. After I filled up the form, I pointed at "Depositor's Signature" and asked her to sign. As I finished, another lady in her thirties approached and requested me to fill the form to withdraw the money from her account. She, too, handed her passbook to me to refer the correct spelling of her name and the account no. This lady also just knew how to sign her name in Kannada. The signature was more like written words rather than an actual scribbled signature like we do; which can be misused by anyone just by writing the name. When I handed over her book and the pay-slip, another aged woman was waiting for me to write hers. The token number was called and I ran to the counter.
When people who can't read or write request the clerks at banks, they are literally pissed off due to the work pressure and the mistakes that are made in the cheques... I was sad sighting these people who had to request others for each and every paper work involving money and blindly trust what others write on their behalf. Few of them even use the thumb impression on cheques :( Can't we do anything about it?
I thank my parents for providing me the best thing in life-the best education, the ability to read, write and communicate with others. I need not depend on others in such cases.
© Manasa. All rights reserved.
17 comments
we can do something about,teach them.But do we have time? we don't.Simple.We can do what we can by helping them then.And if we wish do more,we have to just start going out and teaching.
ReplyDeleteyes I am also very thankful to be educated and to be independent. U know there many who r well educated but yet not independent.
ReplyDeleteI still remember filling up forms for others when I used to go to the bank instead of my dad long back... now because of these cards, I miss the opportunity of waiting for my token number to be called :)
ReplyDeletePS: at first I thought you were writing about mass hysteria & ICICI :p
That's the advantage of being educated... Not saying anything against anyone, till the day illiteracy rules in India we will see such minor to more major issues in our day to day life.
ReplyDelete"Teach how to fish and not give the fish away"
Yes, you need not be dependent, and you can be of help to others. In these days, the only ppl who are uneducated are the ones who have been really really unfortunate in having education come to them.
ReplyDeleteYou did a kind deed indeed.
I remember opening a bank account for my kaam waali baai. She felt so indebted for years. I even taught her to write her name. Unfortunately I wonder what she will do in this age of bank cards and machines :-( World is moving too fast and illiteracy is worse than being handicapped (bold statement)
ReplyDeleteTeach India campaign could help.
ReplyDeleteBut its sad to see the plight of an uneducated indian, and sometimes even the educated indians.
well,i don't think anything could be done to improve it overnight.
ReplyDeletethe campaign started by government to remove illiteracy has been a big failure ..was shocked tos see that most of the schools whihc were opened in villages dont have teachers to teach ..
all states should learn from kerela to improve its literacy rate :D
Illiteracy is persistent. No matter how many schemes govt introduces, poverty makes people to just take children out of schools, rather than put them in... can't argue on their behalf also... but I do agree that education is the best gift anyone can ever give a person.
ReplyDeleteI think, we should learn from Cuba. In 1961, Cuban rural illiteracy was 42 percent. In 2006, UNESCO awarded Cuba for its international literacy program.
ReplyDeleteDuring Fidel Castro literacy campaign was amazing in Cuba so why not India can be 100% literacry.
http://www.oxyshopping.com
WOW! I wish things could be made easier for those who are not educated and that free education is more available.
ReplyDeleteAha!!! may be something like what Shreyas Talpade did in "Welcome to Sajjanpur" :)
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of my visit to SBI 3 years bacl. Had opened a new account & hadn't recived my ATM Card & I was visting the branch to withdraw cash.
I was so used to ATM that I had completely forgotten how to withdraw from a counter..I wasn't caarrying my cheque book also..I was shame faced & had to visit again...
Nice post and Amen! to your wish to do something and I too wish that I can do something in such cases...
Nice blog :)
Nice Post...I truly is sad...I know how you must have felt. We take our education for granted and don't realise how important it is to be able to communicate using the written word or even write our name.
ReplyDeleteIts really sad, the most urgent requirement of this country is literacy, though they have started this SEhshiksha Abhiyan, but its working at a snail's pace. many times I have asked my maids to learn from me, but they neither have any time nor interest, but now most of them are giving education to their children and thats very good step forward.
ReplyDeleteIt is really a sad situation in India where literacy levelis soooo low!! One thing i am doing is that i have started teaching my "house help"! She is young and is picking up fast!
ReplyDeleteNow this post made me feel nostalgic and at the same time think about many things. Nostalgic, because I remember going to such banks (nationalised banks, they call) and filling up the forms..now most of us almost shun the paper work what with the internet banking and all. And thoughtful because I felt sorry for those women. Well, coming to your question: "Can't we do anything about it?"...well, it should start from each of the homes...all of us should do something "PRACTICALLY". Adult education is very important, if not as much as child education. There are such programs going on but not sure how far they really reach illiterate people. People who conduct such programs should also be dedicative enough. I liked this post..It brought many thoughts into my mind...especially because it was nostalgic and at the same time thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteManoj
yeah,even i have been approached once or twice to fill up forms for others .The bank staff are so rude ! my god,I dont understand why they have to be so arrogant ....now that anyway half of this "gen" no longer goes to banks and prefers ATMs and online banking ,its high time even the "nationalised" banks geared up to provide better facilities for the public.
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