You are in line!

“One person at a time”. This notice is seen outside ATM centres around the country. Though we may not be aware of this notice hanging outside the ATM centres, we do follow it sometimes. Sadly, most of the times we don’t follow this simple instruction written in three languages- English, Hindi and the local language.

In the place I am currently located Tezpur, people are probably illiterate or choose to ignore any kind of instruction. In front of an ATM centre no one follows this simple instruction of the fact that a person may be getting irritated at this breach of privacy. Moreover, there are always some smart-heads who think they know all about ATM’s and its processes and won’t stop from giving their valued opinions and suggestions when not required.

If a concerned citizen tells these people in queue to read the instruction and wait outside, smart answers like, “I want to get the cool air of the AC”, or “I won’t look at what you are doing” is alone gets. No one bottoms about it. It is really wonderful to think what do they get by entering and peeping into someone else’s transaction.


To a certain extent, if the attitude of the people cannot be changed overnight, sure the ATM centres can be changed. There is a facility in the centres where the door gets locked when a person enters and it opens only when the card is used. Sadly, in most centres this facility is dysfunctional and no one bothers to repair it.

India needs to wake to the social norms and follow certain rules which does not harm anyone but further strengthens the process. We all need to be aware of our rights and need to fight at the right time.