Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has introduced significant changes in the process of obtaining birth and death certificates, resulting from a software update mandated by the central government.
Previously, citizens could collect these certificates from any ward office within the city. However, due to changes in the Civil Registration System (CRS) software, certificates can now only be issued by the regional office where the birth or death was initially registered.
This alteration has forced citizens to visit specific ward offices, often leading to multiple visits due to persistent 'server slow' issues. The CRS software has been in use in Pune since 2019, facilitating the registration of births and deaths citywide, with certificates accessible from any regional office.
The update, implemented on June 24, has disrupted this convenience, compelling citizens to obtain certificates only from the office where the event was recorded, causing significant inconvenience.
The certificate issuance process involves ward offices receiving information from hospitals about births and deaths, followed by the preparation of certificates within 15 days.
Under the new system, relatives must fill out yellow, pink, or white forms and attach identification documents. The printed certificates must then be stamped at citizen facilitation centers after payment, requiring citizens to queue up twice, wasting time and occasionally leading to disputes between staff and citizens.
For instance, a resident of Wadgaon Sheri whose child was born in a hospital in Kothrud now must obtain the certificate from the Kothrud office, whereas previously it could be obtained from any office. This change is particularly inconvenient given Pune's traffic congestion and travel times.
Dr. Kalpana Balivant, Acting Health Chief of PMC, stated that the changes in the CRS software are aimed at centralizing certificate issuance. Training for staff on the new software has been provided, and efforts are being made to inform citizens about the changes and address their concerns.
One citizen, Prashant Patil, shared his frustration: "I went to the Sinhagad Road ward office for my daughter's birth certificate but was redirected to the Warje ward office, where the birth was registered. I was unaware of this change and had to make multiple trips."