News & Events

Govt’s e-services to pinch your pockets soon
     

The Delhi government has taken several measures to promote e-governance but the services under it will soon come at a cost.

The government is planning to levy user charges — ranging from Rs.50 to Rs.500 — for issuing different kinds of certificates online, officials said.
Around two months back, the Delhi government’s revenue department launched its e-districts project under which the certificates are issued and delivered to city residents online. No extra cost is charged for it.

However, now the revenue department has decided to levy charges for providing the service.

The revenue department issued an order earlier this month fixing the user charges for different certificates. Of ficials said the order is likely to be implemented by November-end.

“Efforts are on to integrate the payment gateway of the e-district portal with State Bank of India. The discussions are in an advanced stage and is likely to become operational by November-end. The user charges order would be implemented along with it,” a senior official said.

Officials hope the people won’t mind paying the extra cost as the facility would make the process convenient and transparent.

“Earlier, people would run from pillar to post for the certificates, often being fleeced by touts. After the launch of the project around two months back, people could apply sitting at home. The certificates are also delivered online. Moreover, we are also simplifying the documentation process. The number of affidavits required for it is also being reduced,” an official said.

Eight certificates for which user charges would be levied include income, domicile, birth, caste, lal dora, surviving member certificate, solvency and marriage.

Officials said death certificate and Disability certificates would be kept out of the new regime.

Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 1st Nov. 2015