The Hindu 22.01.2010
Birth certificates’ issue date to be extended
Staff Reporter
| Heavy rush at special counters prompts move |
Around 10,000 certificates issued since January 15
Part of drive to issue unique id cards to children
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the overwhelming response to the ongoing campaign to issue birth certificates to children aged between three and 18 years, the City Corporation is planning to extend the date for the programme.
The campaign was launched as part of the project by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Department of Local Self Government to issue unique identity cards to children. Sources in the Corporation said that the LSG Department would extend the date for ward-level verification of birth certificate data from January 25 to February. Special counters set up at the Corporation main office to issue birth certificates are expected to be extended.
The huge turnout at the special counters had turned unmanageable for the Corporation authorities. The queues built up in front of the special counters in the last few days went past the Corporation compound and Palayam.
On Thursday, around 3,000 birth certificates were issued from the special counters. Since January 15, more than 10,000 birth certificates have been issued from these counters.
“So far, we have issued certificates to all those who came to the special counters. The problem is that parents who already have birth certificates of their wards are also approaching the special counters. People who have given their children’s birth certificates to schools want new certificates now, which is actually not required,” said Corporation Sub Registrar K. Jayadevan.
“We have already registered around 4.5 lakh children aged between three years and 18 years. This means that more than half of the children within this age group have acquired birth certificates,” he said.
The Corporation’s Janasevana Kendram is also witnessing a heavy rush for birth certificates as many parents are insisting on certificates issued on stamp papers, which are issued only from the Kendram.
Corporation officials said that although the birth certificates given from the special counters are not issued on stamp paper, they are legally valid and can be used for all practical purposes, except in matters coming under judicial purview.
