Birth, Death Certificates likely to be issued through Gram Panchayats
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 11 2015 : State authorities are planning to take up a new strategy to lessen the problems of procuring birth and death certificates by providing the same through the Gram Panchayats.

The benefits will be provided the far-flung villagers of Manipur under the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Department.

Under the new mechanism, villagers of rural areas will be issued their birth and death certificates through the Gram Panchayats, said sources.

Normally, birth and death certificates of rural area villagers are issued by the office of Block Development Officer (BDO).

However, under the new plan, these certificates will not only be issued by the office of BDO but Panchayat Secretaries of Gram Panchayat level will also have the authority to issue the certificates.

Sources informed that RD&PR Director Dr K Shyamsunder had already written to Chief Registrar of Birth and Death who also holds the portfolio of Director Health Services and requested the department to successfully adopt the new strategy.

In the written request, it was mentioned that "The Directorate has developed a new strategy/mechanism of delivering fast and easy service of getting registration of every birth and death and Panchayat area/grassroots level.

The implementation of the process will have two options � Manually and Service Plus application under e-Panchayat MMP.

It was further highlighted that "The new mechanism will effectively reduce the prevailing inconveniences caused to citizens of villages' especially in remote areas and bring basic services to their doorsteps" .

Sources said that the order signed by the then Under Secretary Th Surjit in December 16, 1980 authorised the Block Development Officers and Panchayat Secretaries as the Ex-Officio Registrars and Ex-Officio Sub-Registrars respectively under the Registration of Birth and Death Act 1969.However, the power of issuing birth and death certificates has not given to the Panchayat Secretaries till now.

The new mechanism which has developed with an aim to deliver fast and easy service of getting registration of every births and deaths in the panchayat area needed the approval of health department for implementation.

If the health department has given the approval, then the birth and death certificates will be soon issued through the gram panchayat level, said the source.

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