Birth, death can wait, it’s election time

Local bodies take poll cover to sit on applications for certificates, licences

At the trade licence counter a note has been put up stating that renewal certificates for applications filed after February 20 will be issued after May 10. Photo: H. S. Manjunath

It was the third visit of the manager of the retail chain outlets of a company to the Mangalore City Corporation in the last 15 days to collect certificate of renewal of trade licences for eight outlets. “Twice I had to stand in the long queue only to return empty-handed.” The manager had filed the renewal application on February 18.

He came on Saturday hoping to avoid the queue, but was told by the MCC official to wait as he had to search for the eight certificates. As he was waiting, he saw there were others too waiting for renewal of trade licence.

As per the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act (Sakala), an applicant has to get the certificate within 30 days from the date of application. Officials in the Mangalore City Corporation have cited elections as the reason for the delay in processing applications.

Shekar K., a resident of Kotekar, is yet to get the birth certificate of his grandson applied on March 24. As per the Act, his application had to be disposed in three days. “I have been asked to come next week. Officials cite elections as the reason for the delay. Whether they are actually involved or not, this gives a good reason for delay in the work,” said Mr. Shekar, as he left the MCC office.

The corporation has put up a note stating about the delay likely to be caused in processing applications for birth and death certificates.

At the counter related to trade licence, a note has been displayed stating that trade renewal certificates for applications filed after February 20 will be issued after May 10.

According to information available on the Sakala website, the corporation has been able to dispose 1,540 applications as against 1,567 applications seeking birth/ death certificates till April 27. Similar is the scene in Town Municipal Council in Moodbidri where 109 applications have been disposed as against receipt of 111 applications for birth and death certificates till April 27.

There is marked decrease in processing applications for caste certificate at the Mangalore Taluk Office.

Of the 2,089 applications it has received, the Taluk Office has been able to dispose 1,816 applications. The Regional Transport Office Mangalore has been able to process 1,552 as against 1,620 applications filed seeking driving licence.

Dakshina Kannada has been ranked 10 among the 30 districts in terms of time taken to dispose of applications under Sakala. Chikkballapur has been found to be quick in disposing applications followed by Uttara Kannada and Haveri. Udupi has been ranked 4 with as many as 17,971 disposals till April 27.