The Times of India       05.01.2011

BANGALORE: There was a time when you had to run from pillar to post to obtain a birth/death certificate. Unfortunately, it still continues for many despite the new e-way introduced by the city corporation for this purpose in early 2010.

The online registration process of the BBMP helps one obtain a first free copy of a digitally signed certificate within 21 days since applying for it. Extra copies are available at a rate of Rs 50 for one copy and Rs 10 thereafter. There are 48 registration centres across the city, including 37 member of health (MOH) offices, six BBMP referral hospitals and five major government hospitals.

Apart from these registration centres, the certificates can also be availed at all citizen service centres of the BBMP like at BangaloreOne centres, health centres and the corporation head office.

The registration system is not yet 100% online and one still needs to submit a hard copy of the birth/death events to the registration centres for the online entry. However, the corporation hopes to complete the online link shortly to facilitate easy e-transfers from hospitals and nursing homes directly.

"It's a very simple process. But, the biggest problem with birth/death certificates is the lack of awareness among people. This is reflected in their indulgence in paying bribes and queries to us. The only bribe that I had to pay until now was for my father's death certificate," T R Raghunandan co-ordinator of "I paid a bribe" campaign of Janaagraha told TOI.

LODGE A COMPLAINT IF BRIBE IS DEMANDED

In case one still has problem with the new online registration process, all you have to do is approach the joint director (Statistics)/BBMP control room or the BBMP commissioner.

If a bribe is demanded, you may approach the Lokayukta. You can also become part of the "I paid a bribe" campaign on the website http://ipaidabribe.com