E-birth certificate pangs a big worry

Hyderabad: Obtaining a digital birth certificate has become a major hassle for many people in the city.

Though the birth certificates for the years 2000 to 2013 have already been digitised and dispatched and the ones from 1990 to 2000 are in the process, there is confusion over this new system.

Those born before 1989 with a gram panchayat birth certificate are facing the heat. They have to delay their passport or immigration procedures as they are now required to submit GHMC birth certificate.

Applications are piling up at GHMC ward offices. Those who want to apply for “Non Availability of Birth Certificates application” or “Non-Traceable applications”, have to either submit a ration card or an electricity bill of the residence of birth to get a certificate. However, many do not have such a record.

“Obtaining these certificates is a major hassle. Many areas that did not fall under the GHMC limits earlier are now a part of it. Transfer of data from gram panchayat offices to the wards must be done fast. I am running around ward offices, Mee Seva centres and the GHMC head office to get my birth certificate, but in vain. My passport process has been delayed,” said Richa Rao, a software engineer.

Relatives of some people abroad are running around GHMC?offices for these certificates.

“My son was born in 1985 and he is now in the US. For many formalities, the concerned authorities demand upgraded certificates and he has a gram panchayat certificate from LB Nagar. That is not sufficient,” he said.

GHMC statistical officer T. Vijay Kumar said, “In some cases we are relaxing the requirement by accepting the SSC?certificate or a bank passbook. A few circles do have issues” and we are working on it.”

Some hospitals are yet to be registered with the GHMC, only after which all the births can be recorded.

“Currently, there are 1,445 hospitals that are registered with the GHMC. These hospitals have to keep updating the details periodically,” Vijay Kumar added.