Government offices providing public services continued to buzz with activity on Tuesday, even a day after the launch of the doorstep delivery of services scheme.
The Hindu visited Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and SDM offices to assess whether the project had led to a reduction in footfall. Some applicants claimed they had chosen to visit the office as they could not get through the home delivery helpline — 1076.
While checking his documents outside the RTO in Raja Garden, Karan Singh said: “It [home delivery scheme] is a noble step, but not a well executed one. I do not understand why such large-scale services are initiated without a proper supporting framework.”
Sankalp Madan said he came to the RTO in person after not getting through the helpline. “After many futile attempts on the number 1076, I decided to visit the office personally today,” he said. He was not alone.
The footfall at two RTOs in Raja Garden and Janakpuri in west Delhi seemed to be the same, said staff members of the offices. “In fact, a helpdesk was added recently to cater to the applicants. It seems to be performing its job well,” said a staffer at one of the RTOs.
The RTO in Janakpuri, where only three helpdesks were functional, saw long queues. Parminder Pal Singh, 62, said: “The number 1076 seems to not exist. Not a single call I made since yesterday was successful.”
Another senior citizen, Tara Chand, 66, complained of long queues in most of the government offices. He mentioned that one full day ought to be reserved for any “sarkari work”.
Only a few steps from the RTO Janakpuri there exist a line of lawyers sitting with their typewriters. One of them, requesting anonymity, said “It is business as usual for us. We haven’t seen any decrease of work in past two days.”
At an SDM office, applicants blamed the loopholes in existing services for not adopting the new scheme.
“We are told to wait five days for a receipt on submission of our applications. How can we to trust this delivery system,” asked Sanjay Kumar, who had come to get his son’s caste certificate made.
No relief in headcount was even visible here according to a staff member. “As of now the crowd is the same as usual. Let us hope it reduces in the future,” said the staffer.
