Help!!!

Update: Here's a post that shares some similar thoughts.
I'm sure almost all of you must have, sometime or the other, had to step into the confines of a public-sector enterprise office, and I'm equally sure that most of you guys have tales of torrid times to tell! So, what I'm going to post is nothing new. However, I'd like to touch upon something that such a recent experience left me thinking about. First, something about the events that transpired. I'd gone to a nearby branch of a public-sector bank to inquire about opening an account for my brother who's just been transferred to this city. Now, the gentleman sitting at the counter, first threw a volley of questions at us - ranging from where I stay, to if I have all the documents for the house, where I work. That is perfectly fine. But when I told him, that I had to open an account for my brother, who'd just been transferred, and hence, obviously did not have any documents in his name, he shook his head vigorously and informed us that he cannot have an account. I asked him about opening a joint account with me as the primary account holder. No sir! You may not! We then went to talk to the Branch Manager, expecting that he would be more helpful. Of course, this was being very, very optimistic. The Manager listened to us, and asked us to go to the counter where forms are available. I patiently told him that I'd already been there, and that I hoped that he'd be able to help with the situation that we have. The Bank, spake He, is not a place to provide documents, and you must acquire them yourselves! 'We cannot help you!', said the Manager. Now, I was patiently trying to explain to him, that perhaps he can help us figure out a way through this. How does a person who's been just transferred open an account, I asked. After a lot of rambling, I finally asked him if a letter from his (my brother's) organization stating the address as per their records would do. 'Aah,' spake the Supreme Lord, 'but, of course! That would do!' I further told him, that we can furnish the Ration Card that has our names (to establish the relation), as an additional supporting document. Now the manager was positively happy! Said He, 'Yes, yes... Please go ahead. You'll find the form with Mr. XYZ over there.' I'll be honest about one thing. At the start of this post, I did talk about a PSU office, but I've had similar experiences even in private sector enterprises. Heck, even in my previous job, we had to battle through a lot (and I mean a LOT) of crap, red-tape to get things done. So in a sense, it's not only about PSU offices. But what really left me wondering was why don't these people want to help their customers (or prospective customers) get things done? The first thing that they think is how things cannot be done, rather than how they can be! In the incident at the bank, all the gentleman at the counter (or the manager) could have asked was if my brother could submit a letter from his employer stating his address as per their records! As simple as that! Instead of that, they launched into a tirade, haranguing us for asking too many questions! I simply fail to see how this attitude is going to win them any customers. But then again, they needn't worry about that. If they lose this one, they can get may be ten others. No problem. The problem with that is that this one customer can probably wean away ten others who would have approached them. Sadly, this attitude (towards customers/prospective customers) persists even in a competitive arena. India, with it's huge (and growing) population presents an almost endless sea of people who'd approach them. How does it matter if we lose a few?! But there's another thing that goes beyond just business practices. Why don't these people (the gentleman at the counter, the Branch Manager) feel like helping out people that approach them? Just as people, just as human beings - not even as customers! Why can't they think about such treatment being meted out to them (or their immediate relatives/loved ones)? Would they like to be treated in the same way? Why can't they just help out the people who approach them, and bask in the smile that radiates from the person upon being helped out? Are we, as a people, becoming so narrow-minded? As my friend Dev would wonder, 'Why is there lack of goodness in this world?' Why can't we help people, in small ways, in whatever way we can? Even if we help someone is a tiny, wee-bit way, I think this world will be a much better place to live in... What do you all say?