Services that Indians could do with

In my virtual travels over the internet, I came across this amusing yet thought-provoking web-site : www.qms-dc.com/linestanding.html. In the USA, there is usually a fair amount of people wanting to be present when the legislature meets to discuss an important bill. And presto, there is a service that helps these people cushion the discomfort of waiting in line for a price. I thought this concept of line standing services was outstanding and simple. So I visited the site and found out how complex it could get. Take a peek and let me know if you disagree ! That however is the aside.

In 1996, when I had to visit the USA from India, I was given a visa in-person appointment at the Chennai consulate. And my employer, had also very thoughtfully provided a line-stander. So this "nameless" person made a few rupees waiting in line outside the fortressed building until I got there and took over. So the service does exist in India but has it got its due ?

So here are my suggestions :

- Allow these services to be professionalised and for a start give them a 10-year tax holiday. That will encourage people to join the "industry". See ma, no taxes !
- Instruct all offices that have and may need linestanding to have markers (straight lines of course) outside to help facilitate these services. So everybody falls in line.
- Mandate free advertising space : all RTO, Passport offices, Registar offices and others to have billboards for linestanding services - "Deliniate your effeciency. Outsource linestanding" or "IN LINE ? STAND OUT WITH BEE-LINE SERVICES" looks rather catchy.
- As a perk, allow all the workers in the industry to break queues at temples such as Tirupati when they are on personal trips. How would you know - they wont be wearing badges that say "STANDING FOR YOU". No average human being will grudge the linestander his perk. And as Milton said, "They also serve who only stand and wait".
- Allow them to form a Union and request them to help formulate the laws and regulations. For instance, weekend standing should four times as expensive. Afterall the price of free-time is more than that of working hours, right ?;)

So where would this industry's revenue come from ?
- Temples : Tirupati looks like a treasure trove but the work conditions are harsh too.
- All ticket reservation counters - buses, trains,..
- All Govt offices (remember Jug Suraiya say that the line for the Delhi employment agency ends in Shimla ?)
- Ration shops
- MTR (for non-Bangaloreans : this is the famous Mavalli Tiffin Rooms where you sometimes have 24 hr wait time :)
- Cinema theatres and more..

With the world being flat (that really helps linestanders else the curvature of the earth might not keep them steady on their feet), the next time you see Mr.S.Santhanagopalan (purely fictitious character) outside Capitol Hill, Washington DC waiting patiently with the badge of honour, do a jig because linestanding would have come full circle.