KOCHI: On entering the Elamkulam village office, what greets you are not confused shouts, arguments or the screeching of office paraphernalia as one would expect from a government establishment. Instead, soothing lounge music.
Also missing are long queues. Indeed, visitors have rows of steel chairs to lean back and relax. There’s no scuffling and shoving as a token system decides whose case is addressed. First come, first serve.
These are just a few in a string of positive changes in recent months at the village office, which has already enjoyed a fresh coat of paint and the addition of a beautiful roof.
All this is steered by one man — C K Sunil, the current village officer.
“I still remember my first day here; back in June 2022. Then, the office was in a dilapidated state, overrun with creepers. It resembled a bhoot bungalow,” recalls Sunil. If finding the office was already a hassle, getting inside was yet another struggle as the cracked compound wall did not allow the entrance gate to be opened fully. Often, visitors were forced to ‘slide’ themselves in.
“Since this was a government establishment frequented by people from all walks of life, I wanted to see to it that its basic functions were in order,” says the officer, who was previously posted in the Thiruvaniyoor village office.
However, obtaining sufficient funds from a cash-strapped government proved exceedingly difficult. Sunil was not dejected though. He reached out to nearby firms and influential personalities for help and soon, had enough not only to tend to basic repairs but also a significant facelift.
“Village offices are often a crowded place with everyone jostling to get things done. This hassle rubs on the officials as well, who also yearn to finish their jobs and head home. I wanted to change this. Hence, the introduction of a token system and an aesthetically done waiting area. Now, both the staff and the visitors feel at home here,” says a beaming Sunil. Cleanliness is also another facet that the officer paid attention to. Now, all the office rooms, including that of Sunil himself, are spick and span and decorated with indoor plants. Beautiful curtains hang where once cobwebs and dust gathered. The flooring, too, has been redone.
Like the building, the positive changes in the day-to-day affairs of the office are also palpable. “There are no more scuffles or arguments. Everyone waits for their token number to be called out and the staff tends to the visitors’ needs with a smile. We are like a family now,” Sunil adds.
Like Elamkulam, Kakkanad, Vazhakkala and Thiruvaniyoor offices — where Sunil had previously worked — too have benefited from the officer’s vision and ability to get things done. The story, if anything, is also emblematic of the positives that an individual can bring about.