Page 69 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

18. Thinking out of the box -

Challenging the status quo

Thinking out of the box
As a branch head, I travelled to BTC, RBI Mumbai for attending a training
programme. On return, I submitted the Travelling Allowance Bill to next
higher office, our Zonal Head as per rules. I had then submitted the TA
Bill for Rs. 2110/- . The Officer handling the Travelling Allowance Bills
checked it and found that I had claimed Rs. 60/- less erroneously for
travelling for two hours as a part of 24 hours block of the day for which
I was actually entitled to. He recommended to pass the bill for Rs. 2170/-
and put up for approval and signature of his superior, the Manager of
Zonal Office. The Manager found it a unique case as never ever an officer
was paid more than the claimed amount. Rather deducting some amount
from the claimed amount was a norm. He called the officer and
questioned his recommendation.

The Officer told the Manager "I am supposed to scrutinize a bill, work
out the correct amount and recommend to pass the bill for correct
amount deducting any excess amount claimed for which the employee
is not entitled. On the same lines, I have to work out the correct amount
and allow additional amount if a lower amount is claimed as per
entitlement. Once I trust all the dates and timings of journey given by
an employee and if he has omitted to claim for full day entitlement for
the part of the last day of journey in continuation, I am supposed to pay
him this amount even if he has omitted to claim due to ignorance".

The logic was quite strong but out of the box. The Manager hesitated in
breaking the practice of only deducting and never paying more than the
claimed amount. This was deep rooted in psyche for decades of his
service. So he took the officer to the Zonal Head to discuss the issue for

66 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole