Delay in services defy purpose of Sewa Kendras

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 28

Even though the Sewa Kendras, which were set up by the government to ease out the process of giving birth and death certificates, are not being able to deliver on promises. The issuance of certificates takes at least 30 days, when these are meant to be issued within seven days from the date of application.

Even employees at Sewa Kendras ask applicants to visit after the Kendra after 30 days, so that they do not have to return empty handed. “The time mentioned on the receipt is seven days, but we do not get certificates before at least 30 days. A lot of time is consumed at the Birth and Death Registration Office of the Municipal Corporation,” said an employee.

Sources at the MC’s Birth and Death Registration Office said the lack of sufficient manpower with the office and incomplete digitisation of records resulted in delay of services.

Even though the Right to Service Act empowers applicants to file a complaint if they fail to get the service within stipulated time frame of seven days, there are seldom any complaints. The lack of awareness on the part of applicants about the appellant authority with which complaint is to be filed and the apprehensions of inconvenience result in almost no complaints.

“A month’s time has almost become a norm. If the MC gets fully equipped to deal with such applications, it will help people get certificates quickly,” said an applicant, Joginder Singh.

Sources at the Birth and Death Registration Office said they get nearly 400 applications daily through Seva Kendras, most of which are related with name entry, correction in spellings and issuance of new certificates. “Before the certificate is issued, the office is responsible to check all facts which takes time,” said an official.