An old post of mine relating to the use of the HO Quota in a case of need
HO QUOTA
Since there have been so many queries on HO quota, I would like to narrate a small incident of human interest that I was a party to way back in 1985. I was then the Branch Manager of SBI, FCI Branch, Durgapur, WB. Suddenly one of the 4 armed security guards at the branch came into my chamber and started crying. Apparently he was having a problem with his vision in both eyes...
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and a week's treatment and medication following consultation with a local doctor had only compounded the problem of blurred vision . Being a married ex-serviceman with 4 small children, the guard was petrified that he would lose his vision and consequently his job too.
I asked him to calm down and said I would try to help him. Luckily within half an hour I managed to get the number of Sankar Netralaya at Chennai and spoke to a doctor there. I narrated the problem and his response was " Send him here immediately with a letter of introduction and we shall take care of the problem". The guard readily agreed to go to Chennai along with his wife. Accordingly I made out a letter to the Netralaya.
The next problem was getting tkts for the Coromandel. Fortunately I could contact the PRO of SER who asked me to send a request letter from the Bank seeking allotment of HO QUOTA for WL tickets on the ground of medical emergency. True to his word the gentleman readily obliged and the guard along with his wife was safely on his way to Chennai in 3 days' time for treatment.
He returned to the bank 10 days later fully cured as it was apparently a very minor problem and the story then ended there. 25 years later in 2009 I happened to visit that branch and suddenly a gentleman who had come to collect his pension came towards me and touched my feet. Only after he introduced himself did I realise that it was that guard who had since retired from service. We embraced each other as tears welled in our eyes. He had not forgotten a very small gesture on my part.
MORAL : It is possible to avail of HO quota in case of emergency if one can approach the right person in IR.