Difficult Task To Obtain Birth And Death Certificates

In our is state it is became as diificult task to get birth and death certificates and in case if they missed it is another dificultty.Have a look on these things.GHMC was among the foremost local bodies across the country to take up digitisation of birth and death certificates, also introducing in-built security features to make them tamper-proof about a decade ago.

Yet in recent times, there have been many instances where fake death certificates are being produced to make fraudulent insurance claims. Besides, it has not all been smooth in the issue of birth certificates too, with delays experienced in obtaining them online within five days, as claimed by the municipal corporation.

This is paving the way for middlemen to get into the system to fleece the gullible public, considering the importance of birth certificates in recent years as an authentic document.Information from other municipal bodies, too, shows that most applications are made for birth certificates.With the health and sanitation department manned mostly by outsourced staff, there have also been charges of malfeasance in the issuance of these certificates.

To compound the issue, the municipal corporation has stopped putting its digitised birth certificate database (between 1958 and 2018) ‘open’ in recent times.Earlier, any citizen could access the certificates by going to the GHMC website and key in the date of birth or name along with the parent’s name and through a random search.Of late, however, one cannot access the database unless the registration number is known. “This defeats the very purpose of digitising the certificate because it is a public document under the Indian Evidence Act.

Just like an encumbrance certificate, anyone can access the certificate. There is scope for third party intervention when citizens are denied access,” argue senior municipal officials, seeking anonymity.It is difficult for citizens to remember precise details, especially the registration number, when they wish to obtain a fresh birth certificate in case they lost one.

“It is convenient to get the certificate if the registration number is known. One just has to go to the MeeSeva centre and obtain it by paying a fee of ?20 per copy. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of the broker or some official to get information and/or certificate, as the certificate details are uploaded after an applicant takes the first copy,” they claim.

The civic body has also been lax in getting more hospitals and nursing homes (with 25 beds or more) to update registration of birth and deaths online. For several years now, the number of institutions has been stagnant at around 130. “Delay in updating the records online either from the hospitals or from the respective ward offices is another method to take undue advantage of citizens’ urgency,” explain senior officials.

In fact, for better accountability, GHMC had sought government permission to fill health assistant posts in the 18 circles through regular recruitment. The health assistants handle crucial activities such as preventive malaria health care, sanitation and registration of births and deaths, and GHMC did not want to depend on outsourced employees. This wish is yet to be granted.