Planning to introduce doorstep services: Sidhu

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 21

After introducing the online system for building map approval and new advertisement policy for the civic bodies, the Department of Local Government is planning to introduce doorstep services such as delivery of birth or death certificates at home. It will be a major relief for people who have to do the rounds of the MC offices for getting these certificates.

Talking to The Tribune, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said they were planning doorstep services by the civic bodies in the state. “We are planning to deliver birth and death certificates at home. There is a plan to introduce more doorstep services by the civic bodies in coming months,” he added.

“The CEO of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company has given some suggestions in this regard. We hope the doorstep services will be introduced in next six months,” said Sidhu.

Many visitors complain that they are forced to do the rounds of the MC office to get the copies of birth and death certificates.

A resident of Gill Road, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, said: “It will be a welcome move if the government introduces the doorstep services by the Municipal Corporation. The process of obtaining birth or death certificates will become very easy. The government should also make easy the process to get water supply and sewerage connections.”

“There is a need to introduce the online complaint portal system where grievances will be resolved in a time-bound manner. The MC provides the facility of registering complaints through its website and mobile application, CRAMAT, but there is a need for time-bound grievance redressal system,” he added.

“There will be a lot of advantages with the introduction of doorstep services which are key features of a smart city. The people, especially senior citizens and those who can’t not get time from their busy job schedule to visit MC offices, will get a major relief. Besides, the role of middlemen will be eliminated. The doorstep services are running successfully in developed nations. If such services are implemented in the right manner, the system will become more transparent,” said Sanjay Goel, chairman of Indian Institute of Architects, Punjab Chapter.