E-governance centres to accept applications for marriage aid

Applications for the government’s marriage assistance and child protection schemes can be submitted at the 169 public service centres set up under the State government’s e-governance project in the district, Collector K.S. Palanisamy said on Friday.

While 146 of the public service centres are run by various primary agricultural cooperative societies, 12 are run by the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation at its Hope Centres in the city. This apart, the Tamil Nadu Cable Television Corporation is running the service centres at 11 taluk offices across the district.

Initially, citizens could apply and get community, income, nativity, first-generation graduate, and deserted widow certificates from the public service centres. Recently, more services were offered through these centres and applications for various schemes such as the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme, Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Inter-caste Marriage Assistance Scheme, Dr. Dharmambal Ammaiyar Memorial Widow Remarriage Scheme, and Mother Teresa Memorial Destitute Women Assistance Scheme were received through these centres.

Speaking at a function to mark the receipt of applications under the schemes at public service centres run by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society at Singalanthapuram in Thuraiyur taluk on Friday, Mr. Palanisamy said applicants seeking certificates would have to pay a fee of Rs. 50 and those seeking assistance under the government schemes were required to pay Rs.100.

So far, 76,348 applications have been received in the district seeking various certificates and 60,538 certificates have been issued. Another 9,350 certificates were to be issued shortly. About 375 applications have been received for the government schemes. The applications would be processed and sanction orders issued within six months, he said.

Mr. Palanisamy said the applicants had to fill up a simple form to apply for the certificates along with supporting documents. The applications are uploaded on the spot and the applicants can verify the details. Applicants are sent text (SMS) messages over the phone on the status of their applications and when their certificate is ready.

The process of issuing receipt of applications and issue of certificates was being monitored on a daily basis by tahsildars, revenue divisional officers, and the District Revenue Officer to ensure that there was no backlog, he said.