Do you know how to utilise e-serve centres?

Despite advances in technology, people still have to make multiple visits to government offices to get crucial documents ranging from income and community certificates to documents for financial assistance

The government has launched E-Serve Common Service Centres (CSCs) to help the faster distribution of certificates. Here's how to access these services

What are E-Serve CSCs ?

The centres are part of a national mission to introduce e-governance on a massive scale to make government services accessible to all

What services do the centres provide? 

The centres process residents' applications for various services online and also collect bills for amenities provided by the government and local bodies

What is the procedure to obtain a certificate?

A resident should first give an application in writing mentioning the certificate she needs

She also needs to pay a registration fee of Rs. 50

The completed application forms along with the supporting documents are scanned and forwarded to the respective Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) and later, Revenue Inspectors (RIs) for approval

Deputy Tahsildars and Tahsildars ‘e-sign’ the certificates after approval from the RIs and VAOs

Supporting documents for Community Certificate

Ration Card or any other address proof, age proof, community certificates of parents, school transfer certificate    

If the applicant cannot produce any of the above documents, a notary certificate to the satisfaction of revenue officials can be submitted

For nativity certificate

Ration card

For income certificate

Ration card, payslip from employers (for private companies)/pay certificate from respective pay disbursement officer for government employees

For destitute widow benefits

Death certificate of the husband and any other proof to substantiate applicant’s claim

If the documents are in order, the VAO will e-sign the application and forward it to the RI   for verification. Once done, the Tahsildar will issue the certificate in 2-3 days

An electronic acknowledgement will be given with a docket number and once the document is ready, an SMS alert will be sent to the applicant’s mobile number so that they can collect the certificate

Bill payments

Monthly/bi-monthly power bills, water and sewer charges can also be remitted here

Expert speak

Applicants will be spared the trouble of waiting to meet revenue staff, but staff will continue to make spot inspections to verify the claims of applicants for various documents. There should be complete transparency and the applicant should be free from duress

P. Viswanathan, convenor, Chitlapakkam Residents Coordination Committee