Hyderabad, June 17: Automation is the order of the day. More so in offices. But a section in the Hyderabad collectorate still functions the archaic way. The Urdu Cell here is the antithesis of a modern office. Computer and fax are a far cry. The Cell doesn’t even boast of a phone. A rickety pedestal fan which gives more sound than air is all by way of a modern gadget.
Yes, that’s the Urdu Cell for you! Tucked away in a corner near the lift, one has to look real hard to find it. It was set up with much fanfare in May 2006 to receive complaints and petitions given in Urdu and forward the same- after translation into English- to the concerned departments. Hyderabad is the second place after Nizamabad where an Urdu cell is established keeping in view that the second official language in the State is Urdu.
But right from day one, the cell is bogged down with problems. Two secondary grade teachers- taken on deputation- run it as best they could, with the available infrastructure. More than accepting, they have to often draft the petitions themselves.
Then they have to translate them by hand into English since the cell doesn’t have even a typewriter. But their biggest problem is translation since they are not conversant with English. The absence of an Urdu to English dictionary makes the job even more difficult. “Often it is difficult to translate certain terms,”say the teachers.Initially the district administration planned to provide a computer to properly record the complaints. But all this remains wishful thinking.
–Agencies