MANGALORE July 31: The problems faced by students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in obtaining income certificates in Mangalore taluk came to the fore at the first Mangalore sub-division level SC, ST grievance redressal meet here on Wednesday. Mangalore sub-division Assistant Commissioner Sameer Shukla, who chaired the meet, directed the Mangalore tahshildar Raju Mogaveera Koni to address the issue immediately.

District convener of Avibajitha Zilla Dalit Hitharakshana Vedike B. Jinappa Bangerasaid application forms in the wrong format which were being supplied by stationery stores in the city had created problems for the applicants. The students were forced to be present in front of the sub-registrar when the official verified an affidavit column in the application before it was sent to the tahsildar’s office, he said.

Noting that Revenue officials in other taluks in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi were not insisting on such formalities, Mr. Bangera urged Mr. Shukla to sort out the issue. The tahsildar assured Mr. Bangera that he would instruct the officials concerned not to insist on the sub-registrar countersigning the affidavit and also expedite the process of issuing income certificates to applicants. The tahsildar said the problems would be solved once “Nemmadi Kendras” at hoblis became operational by August 10. Stating that a decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of Revenue officials in Bangalore earlier this week, Mr. Raju said people would be able to obtain 32 kinds of certificates at the kendras shortly. They would only have to bring supporting documents, he said.

Applicants would no longer have to worry about application forms as they would be generated at the kendras, where the data entry operator would fill them based on the documents produced. Applicants would have to pay Rs. 15 for obtaining a certificate, he said and added that it would be issued after 10 days. Revenue officials at their level would carry out the necessary checks during this period, he said.

Responding to charges of delay byRevenue officials in carrying out survey of lands granted to applicants, Mr. Shukla said the Revenue Department had decided to launch a special drive to clear all such applications received since 2004. The drive would be taken up at Moodbidri and Sullia in Mangalore and Puttur revenue sub-divisions, he said and added that the department had sought the help of the Deputy Director of Land Records.

Hindu