KOLKATA: As the first step towards restoring transparency while issuing birth certificates and to get rid of the touts, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to offer citizens the opportunity to apply online. The system will be rolled out in the first week of January.
Depending on the response and efficacy of the KMC health department in handling the online birth registration system, the civic body will decide on online applications for death certificates too.
The decision to introduce the online system was taken following scores of complaints about birth certificates being sold at a premium — courtesy a racket which has been active at the KMC headquarters and the borough offices across the city.
The online system will unfold in phases, said a KMC health department source. According to an official, the civic body will first invite the citizens to apply online and wait 24 hours for a response from the civic officials. “Once the applicant finds that the application has been accepted, s/he should reach the headquarters or borough offices with valid documents to claim the certificate the same day,” said an official.
In the next step, the KMC plans to upgrade its online system so that the applicants don’t need to visit the KMC offices to claim the certificates. “We are trying to modify the system so that the hallmark which is associated with the birth certificate can be processed through the online system,” said another official.
Sources in the KMC health department have conceded that, depending on the situation, a genuine applicant needs to pay a hefty amount to secure a birth or death certificate. Sometimes, despite having valid papers, an applicant needs to pay Rs 7,000 to Rs 30,000 extra.