THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: People coming to corporation office for various works are facing a harrowing time because of non availability of licensed stamp vendors in the area. One has to travel up to Palayam, Sasthamangalam or Vanchiyoor in search of licensed stamp vendors. The absence of licensed stamp vendors comes as a bolt from the blue for people who have walked many rounds in the Corporation office, pushing for one’s file and getting pushed around in the process.
While the authorities had barred ‘stamp paper hawkers’ from selling stamps outside the Corporation gate, they had failed to put in place alternative arrangements. The stamp paper hawkers used to procure steps from licensed vendors and sell it to customers. When contacted, corporation Secretary M Nizarudeen said, “We have asked people to avoid such hawkers as they could be selling even fake stamp papers. Sometimes they might correct the date of issue on the stamp paper which is not right. In order to ensure that people don’t suffer at their hands, we have asked them to buy stamp papers from licensed vendors.”
“It is not possible to bring private parties on the Corporation premises. However, for people’s convenience, we can consider arranging office space for a licensed vendor in a Corporation-owned complex nearby. I will discuss the issue with the Mayor,” he added. Interestingly, the corporation authorities who are now cautioning people had earlier allowed these hawkers to sell stamp papers without any warning. People coming to corporation office allege that there are no officials to guide them properly about various sections in the office.
Most visitors have to move from desk to desk to locate officials in charge of various responsibilities including issuance of birth and death certificates. The problem is complicated when one has to get certificates of deaths occurred outside the hospital. There is no one to properly guide as to why it takes longer to get such certificates and what are the procedures involved. It is amidst all these chaos that one has to run all over city to get stamp papers.
