n an average, 1,024 children are born in the Capital every day. Soon after the babies come into the world, parents and family members get ready for the next task at hand – getting a birth certificate.
For institutional births, which take place in hospitals or nursing homes, the process is quite straightforward. The hospital gives a ‘birth slip’ or provisional certificate, which along with an affidavit from the parents becomes the basis of application at the local municipal corporation’s office.
Things have been further streamlined with many government hospitals issuing birth certificates. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) had even announced in 2014 that it would post the first copy of the birth certificate free-of-cost to parents if the hospital concerned gave them details.
With more than 82 per cent of births being institutional, as per the annual report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi, 2014, problems arise for those born out of the formal healthcare system, and those who want to get a correction made in an existing certificate.
During a recent visit to the North and East Delhi municipal corporations’ Citizen Service Bureaus (CSBs), The Hindu found that there was a general lack of information, many people who were there on their third and fourth visits, and the presence of touts.
At the EDMC’s Shahdara (South) Zone office in Kardardooma, the CSB stands out — painted a bright green that makes it look quite pleasant. But, for the people queuing up out in the open, the experience can be quite unpleasant.
A businessman from Geeta Colony, Sachin Arora, finally got a birth certificate for his son born on September 13 on December 3, that too after intervention from a friend who happens to be an EDMC employee.
When asked if he faced problems, Mr. Arora pointed towards the CSB and said “there is nothing but problems in there”.
It takes even longer if you want to correct errors in an old certificate. Trilokpuri resident Zeenat Khatun learnt that after three trips to have her own name corrected in her seven-year-old son’s birth certificate.
“When we went to apply for his passport, they pointed out that my name was incomplete on my son’s birth certificate. Even after three trips, today we are going back empty-handed because the CSB has asked for another letter from the hospital,” said Ms. Khatun.
To make matters worse, EDMC employees and touts seems to be hand-in-glove. A photographer from The Hindu was approached by a man who claimed to be an “inspector” with the EDMC.
“What will take you one month, I can get done in a week,” he offered, before realising that he was speaking to mediapersons. He later clarified that he was only helping, but other employees of the EDMC told The Hindu that there was a nexus between some employees and the touts.
The situation was smoother at the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s City Zone office, where the CSB was essentially just a handful of windows opening into the driveway.
Poonam, who had come to get her nephew’s birth certificate, said she was asked to come back a second time because the details were incomplete the first time. “The staff has been helpful,” she said.
Trying to make the process easier, the Delhi government launched its e-district portal on November 30. This was done to facilitate issuing 12 types of certificates, including birth certificates. However, the municipal corporations, which issue the certificates through sub-registrars appointed by the government, were clueless as of Sunday on how the process would work.
The lack of awareness and display boards has people confused. In fact, many are turned away because they don’t have the right documents and photocopies.
While the civic bodies are planning to make the entire application process online, there is a need to generate awareness as most people still prefer, and are able to access, the physical offices.
Even after three trips, today we are going back empty-handed because the CSB
has asked for another letter from the hospital
