Official documents like caste certificates, income certificates and residence certificates can now be obtained online, without having to visit tehsil offices or Common Service Centres (CSCs).
People can apply for availing of such facilities from anywhere, and the certificates will be available without a fee. While income and residence certificates will be provided on self-certification, caste certificates can be accessed as per prescribed provisions.
The e-certificate project is part of Naveen Patnaik’s 5T model of governance for Odisha, and is aimed to benefit an estimated five million applications every year, said official sources. The Chief Minister highlighted that as these basic services were the rights of the people, they would not have to pay any fees to avail of such a facility.
The revenue department has also asked various recruitment agencies and educational institutes to allow the applicants for self-declaration of their caste and residence status. After provisional selection, applicants can be called upon to produce certificates like caste and residence for scrutiny. The revenue department said that all these moves are aimed to empower the citizens and to strengthen the service delivery system.