Display of IDs vital to any organization
 I was inspired by S Sripadmanban’s remarks in the Daily News
Citizens’ mail on July 5, 2011 on ‘Public Servants’ IDS’.
An identity card is a document linked to a centralised database which
basically carries the bearer’s name and details. IDs are used in many
forms and can vary from its format to the information those contain.
Data in IDs issued by states for the purpose of passports, driving
licences, bus and railway and national identity cards can include
portrait photo, age, date of birth, address, profession, religion,
ethnic classification, blood group, restrictions and citizenship status
and DNA taxonomy.
There exists a variety of identification systems in the private
marketplace and government offices, the idea being to provide a better
assurance of identity and security.
With the advent of new technology, developed countries use biometric
information by storing images of eyes prior to processing new passports
especially to control illegal immigration. Companies which operate
safety deposit lockers use finger and handprints of customers as an ID.
Senior managers
ID cards in any organization can ascertain the level of management
and responsibility one holds (e.g. Trainee, staff member, Manager, CEO
etc) which will help the public to approach responsible officer(s) in
case of any disagreement, lackadaisical or obstinate situation from
lower ranks of staff. For all intents and purposes, identity photo cards
are issued in a laminated format (both clipping type and with a long
strap to wear round the neck) to ensure that all personnel wear their
IDs displaying their name and photograph visibly.
In Sri Lanka it has become more or less a vogue for majority of the
human resources to hide their IDs deliberately, either by placing those
inside their shirt pocket or concealing details by turning it upside
down which makes the whole purpose of issuing an identity card futile.
Equally, an unfortunate factor is when even some senior managers and
line managers or chief clerks, who are accountable to their
organizations, turning a blind eye to this situation and at times follow
suit.
Bus travel
Introduction of a specially designed photo card as an ID for all
private bus conductors would help to resolve the present chaotic
situation in private bus travel where commuters are often given a rough
ride without issuing a valid fare ticket. If bus conductors are made to
wear their IDs prominently, at least, it would help passengers to expose
such elements who flagrantly breach the law, even after the end of their
journey.
Some bus inspectors in grey uniforms do not contribute much to
eradicate this problem either when they choose to hang out in clusters
of three to four at a time. I always observe these groups in Borella
where they settle down under a shady tree and start stopping buses
continuously for about an hour or so and then disappear.
During such routine inspections, one official goes to the middle of
the road to halt buses in a row continuously, blocking traffic flow in
the area. Then a second official approaches a passenger seated in a
corner seat and requests to see his/her ticket, while standing on the
pavement. One who appears to be the leader overseas the operation while
another writes out a Dada Kole (instant fine) occasionally for breaking
the law by not issuing valid tickets to passengers. The offender then
returns with full of smiles probably saying to himself, ‘Ave
Maria....... ! wow! it’s a piece of cake’ and gets into the bus again to
get up to his usual high jinks.
Illegal practices
Shouldn’t such inspectors travel inside buses in isolation as a means
of policing to ensure that conductors do adhere to the law? This will
also help to keep a tight rein on overcrowding and stop commuters being
treated as packed sardines during their travel for which they pay good
money as bus fare.
Punjab is taking measures to utilise the use of identity cards to a
maximum to eradicate a social menace of ‘begging’ in public. In the wake
of children going missing in public the intelligence authorities have
begun to conduct an identity drive for beggars and issue them with a
photo card making it compulsory for beggars to wear to help the district
police to sort genuine from unscrupulous elements getting up to any
monkey pranks. Emulating such a system in Sri Lanka would appeal to the
general public as begging at every corner of a street, inside buses and
trains, at traffic light signals, has become habitual and a business of
a daily routine despite there are laws to curb such illegal practices.
Such an operation would enable to challenge anyone knocking on one’s
door for pleading or to stop the automatic reach of the right hand by so
many ‘begging types’ when one walks on a street.
First name used by call centre operators and telephone receptionists
during customer enquiries is yet another area that needs looking into
seriously. In the present system of stating ‘just a name’ as opposed to
giving operator’s full name or an allocated organizational credentials
they would appear only as any Tom, Dick or Harriet with no chance of
tracing back should there be a need subsequently for the enquirer.
If all the efforts made by the government and/or the consumerist
establishments are to achieve good results while offering the public at
large a quality service then compelling all human resources to display
one’s ID would be the real answer - equally making it a punishable
offence for those who conceal it.
[email protected].
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