The Hindu Business Line : Greetings in the Form of 15H

This year, when I presented the forms for my wife’s signature for avoiding tax deduction at source, I just mentioned that that she had to fill Form 15H and not 15G like in the previous year. She is one of those old school housewives who think that the spouse knows best when it comes to form-filling, whether it is an application for a visa or a ration card. Normally, she would sign on the X marked space, wiping her hand carefully with deadpan face. But this time, how ever, she clapped her hands in glee and said, “Whatever that may mean to Mr Chidambaram, to me it sounds as if I have been promoted. I will not cook. Shall we go out and eat today?”.

Much against my wish, I had to dampen her enthusiasm, although I dared not to turn down her suggestion on going out. I explained to her that this change is one of those bureaucratic tricks or quirks of IT officials, by which they derive the sadistic pleasure of pointing out that one is ageing. Of course, Mr S. Rajaratnam, the agony uncle on tax matters, will justify, in his columns, that the otherwise dour IT chaps are entitled to some fun, sadistic or otherwise. Strictly speaking, only God and IT officials can explain why the Form goes from G to H since the contents are the same or nearly the same.

Nowadays, much to our chagrin, financial institutions have robbed us of our identity as bestowed on us by our parents and replaced it with disembodied PAN numbers. But if we consider ourselves entities with flesh and souls, the change from G to H is not strictly complimentary. It only confirms one’s senior citizen status which was entered into tentatively, as acknowledged by the Indian Railways, when we were 60. Now we are reminded that we are advancing in age.

Bringing down self-esteem

Even when we were 60, hoping against hope, we entertained the thought that we could remain as young as we knew we were. We also took pains to go to Ramdev for Kayakalp to Kottakkal for pizhichal, to read didactically presented “how to prevent ageing” homilies in the dailies and to listen to doctors’ advice in the TV… And, here, this curmudgeon of an Aayakar Bhavan spoils the party by slapping Form 15H on us even while its occupant is shaking his finger and pointedly reminding us that we are now 65. Thus, 15H, as it were, seals our fate, whatever self-image we may have had of ourselves till we had to encounter it. Perhaps, only psychiatrists may be privy to the knowledge that this may cause a mild trauma bringing down the self-esteem of the affected. This is also a reminder that it would be hard to get insurance and bank loans; only selective healthcare policies, excluding what is really needed, will be on offer.

Even if we are fit enough to stand in the general queue in government offices, someone looking at the 15H form in our hands will considerately direct us to the senior citizens’ bench. The prognosis for stratification of senior citizens reminding them of their age quinquennially seems to be bright reading the just approved Pay Commission. One will not be surprised if Forms 15I, J, K, and so on, are on the minds of overworked Finance Ministry Officials to mark our 70, 75, 80 …years, even if they do not send us birthday greetings every year.

(The author is former Member, Ordnance Factories. blfeedback@thehindu.co.in)

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