[IAC#RG] Who says Govt doesn't / can't work ?

Dear IAC members

We keep hearing that Govt is useless / corrupt /  doesn't work etc. Let me disclose that often the fault is OURS because of our lack of practice and egoistic approach when it comes to interfacing with Govt..

Some days when I am "on-net" I usually dash off about 20-30 complaints (its all automated, and automatically tracked for followup) on small issues.

Here is an example inline : Result achieved within 57 minutes Read through to end

At 11:43 am I encountered 2 govt_of_india websites which were distributing virii (There's an automated scanner running somewhere to detect these things - which tracks about 1 million websites per hour)

At 12:00 noon following message goes out from me:-

From: Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 27, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Subject: Chinese hackers :
To: mocit@nic.in

To:
Shri Kapil Sibal
Union Minister C&IT

27-07-2013

Sir

Chinese hackers have infiltrated GOV.IN "Internet facing computers".

This is a major security threat to the nation and requires your prompt personal attention since the Controller of Cyber Security / DG-CERT-IN etc seem to be sleeping.

Please see:
www.anantapur.gov.in/uc-page/images/faq/jpmorgan.html
www.anantapur.gov.in/uc-page/images/faq/sallymaestudent.html
www.ogpl.gov.in/node/65838

yours etc.

Er. Sarbajit Roy
National Convenor
India Against Corruption, jan andolan
B-59 Defence Colony
New Delhi 110024
Tel  09311448069

At 12:06 PM I get call from Min's office, asking me to contact Dr. Gulshan Rai (he's in charge of Cyber Security for GoI) directly on his gmail ID. I say "its not my job now considering I've filed an official complaint to the Minister and I want to go through channels". Person on line then gives me a gmail ID to send the complaint to.

From: Sarbajit Roy<sroy.mb@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 27, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Subject: Fwd: Chinese hackers :
To: ranjxxxx.kxxxx@gmail.com

Shri Ranjxxxx Khxxxxx
Private Secretary

As discussed, please take immediate action on this with Dr. Gulshan Rai etc. as these sites are planting malware on user computers to take over email accounts.

By 12:57 PM, these sites have been corrected.

MORAL / TIPS:

1) Send the message to the top.

2) I'm sure they called back and sorted it out because
a) they don't want to tangle
b) They know that "small" problems need to be sorted out before they snowball
c) I used the right "babu" code language - eg. "Internet facing computers",
d) I complained about a lower authority under them - whose job it actually was.
e) In all my interactions (emails and phone), I was polite, CRISP, and knew my rights
F) IT WAS IN THE GOVT's INTEREST TO RESOLVE THEIR PROBLEM.

Point F is the most important. You must always work after figuring out how the other side (Govt / babu etc) ALSO benefits (if all else fails there's always money).

Try it, it takes practice and is frustrating at first, but after that it's like a hot knife going through butter (for small things)

Now I could have reported this to CERT-IN directly, but they would have taken 24-48 hours to "do the needful".

Sarbajit