10 C- GET RECEIPTS
Have you ever been in a situation where you have had to literally pay for breaking the rules ? It is not uncommon to have paid a police inspector or any other government official to conveniently escape from a potentially inconvenient situation. What is common how ever, is to not obtain a receipt or a challan as a proof of the transaction.
It is interesting to note that this occurs not just in interactions with government officials but also with non-government, private sector officials that one engages with on a day-to-day basis. Be it your everyday grocery shopping at a nearby ‘Kirana’ store or getting a new mobile, have you ever wondered if these transactions get accounted for ?
While our satisfaction is unlimited when we are acknowledged for our good work, why do we cultivate an indifferent attitude towards our hard earned money that goes into someone else’s pocket ? Don’t we feel the need to obtain an acknowledgement that tells us where our hard earned money has gone ? Unless we accord value to the money we spend, we certainly cannot expect people around us to be sensitive towards it. The best way to keep a tab on the same is to obtain receipts/ challans on every penny that you spend. Given this, it is central to note that the fourth commandment in the series of ipaidabribe’s Ten Commandments is ‘Get Receipts’.
Obtaining receipts/ challans for every transaction that you undertake ensures that every penny spent is accounted for and does not result in illegal appropriation of your hard earned money by someone else. It also helps in reinforcing the rules and regulations that our officials conveniently evade to fill their own pockets. Further, demanding a receipt is your RIGHT. One that the other person involved in the transaction should oblige you with. A receipt/ challan or any document of acknowledgement also acts as a proof of any transaction undertaken and can be produced at a later stage of verification. We share with you the following Bribe Reports as reported by citizens on ipaidabribe.com which clearly demonstrate one’s right to obtain a receipt and how that action can reinforce the ethos and ethics of an individual performing his duty.
“On FC road near the SBI ATM, a traffic Hawaldar picked up my bike for no parking. No issue with that. But instead of issuing a challan he asked me to pay Rs. 100 and said he'll let me go, I didn't pay him, and instead got myself a challan of Rs. 150 and left that Hawaldar fuming over that incident.”
This report clearly highlights how a person ensured that he rightfully got a challan for the fine charged and did not settle for a lesser amount which would go unaccounted and in the process, be pocketed by the Hawaldar.
"I am from Delhi. I jumped a red light in Jaipur by mistake as the signal was hidden behind a pole.The Traffic constable stopped me and asked for a bribe. I insisted on a challan. He said he will keep my DL and `punch it if I have to issue a challan.’ As I had to return to Delhi, this was not possible for me. I said I am willing to get a challan issued and I dont want to pay any bribe. You guys are forcing me to do that. Surprisingly, the officer allowed me to go without any bribe or issuing a challan."
Though the situation described above did justify a fine, when you are aware of your rights, rules and regulations it leaves no place for compromise. A well-informed citizen can confidently fight for his rights and can hold officers accountable and answerable. When we value our rights and demand an acknowledgement for every proceeding that we undertake we leave no room for any negotiation or loopholes for a bribe transaction to slip through.
Demanding receipts will ensure that we do our small bit towards reducing corruption and contribute towards making the system more transparent, accountable and honest.