Govt set to launch doorstep delivery scheme on Sept 10

ALL SET 40 services will be launched initially, 60 to be added in the coming months; services will be provided between 9am and 9pm throughout the week, say officials

NEWDELHI: It is official now. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will on September 10 launch its ambitious “doorstep delivery of services” scheme, which aims to deliver key services — transfer of ownership of vehicles, driving licences, certificates of caste, domicile, income, etc — right at the doorstep of residents.

The scheme will be rolled out by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal from the Delhi secretariat. Initially, 40 services will be launched and 60 more will be added over the coming months.

“Doorstep delivery of services. A revolution in governance. A big blow to corruption. Super convenience for people. Happening for the first time anywhere in the world. Starts from September 10 (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted on Friday.

According to officials of the administrative reforms department, which is executing the plan, with such a scheme in place, citizens will no longer have to visit government offices and, instead, would be able to access services from the comfort of their homes.

To implement the scheme, the government has roped in a private agency, which will, in turn, hire ‘Mobile Sahayaks’ (facilitators) who will pick up documents, take a photo, collect biometric details and process applications.

These sahayaks will also deliver certificates to residents.

“A person has to just call on a particular number, which is yet to be announced, and the sahayaks will reach his/her home and complete all formalities. Beneficiaries will have to pay a nominal fee of ₹50 to avail this service,” a senior official of the department said.

He said initially, the scheme will be launched with 60 facilitators and their numbers would be increased as required. He added

RESIDENTS CAN CALL A DEDICATED PHONE NUMBER, WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, TO AVAIL SERVICES AT A NOMINAL FEE OF ₹50

that the services will be provided between 9am and 9pm throughout the week.

“The software interface that will link the website of departments has been set up and training is being imparted to the staff. The call centre has also been set up,” the official said.

CONTROVERSY

This scheme was mired in controversy ever since it was cleared by the Delhi cabinet on November 16, 2017. In December, lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal returned the file and advised the government to focus on “digital delivery” of services.

Baijal also asked the government to set up kiosks manned by unemployed youth to facilitate those who had no access to the internet.

The L-G’S decision courted a larger controversy with Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia alleging that the L-G was trying to “protect a corrupt system”.

Baijal, later, approved the scheme in January after the government assured him that it will simultaneously strengthen the online mechanism.

KEY SERVICES: Certificates of caste, birth, death, income, transfer of ownership of vehicles, driving licence, registration of marriage, old age pension scheme, new water or sewer connections

The proposal was stuck for nearly two months because of difference of opinion between L-G Anil Baijal and the AAP government. After the Cabinet’s nod, the proposal was sent to the L-G for approval but he returned the file in December for "reconsideration". The L-G suggested that focus should be

police-verified "Mobile Sahayaks" (facilitators) will be engaged to deliver the services initially on digital delivery of services

"as 35 out of 40 services listed in the scheme were already available online."

Baijal approved the scheme in January after the government re-sent the proposal, assuring him that it will simultaneously strengthen the online mechanism