Single window helps urbanites, but no relief for rural people
Urbanites queue up at collectorate but rural people run here and there
LUCKNOW: At the collectorate here, the Nazir Sadar’s room, which functions as a single window clearance for those seeking permission for loudspeaker use within city limits, is abuzz with hectic activity these days.
With the marriage season at its peak and applications pouring in, the staff is busy sorting out applications, dealing with long queues of people and pacifying angry applicants who protest the directive to seek permission before using loudspeakers in marriage functions. However, despite the single window, many people find obtaining permission for loudspeaker use a cumbersome task. For rural people, it is tougher.
To note, a few days back, the district administration decided on a single window clearance for those seeking permission to use loudspeakers within city limits. Senior administrative officials said the system was introduced to reduce the load of the additional city magistrates (ACMs) for whom it was difficult to address such a large number of applications.
“The city has 7 ACMs and it’s tough for them to address applications in thousands. On a daily basis, each ACM got more than 250 applications for loudspeaker permission and it was impossible to address all of them. So the single window system was introduced,” a senior administrative official said.
Through the system, permission has been granted to over 3,650 applicants in the past 7 days. “The marriage season is at its peak. We have given permissions to 3,650 applicants so far but thousands of applications are yet to get clearance,” said Neeraj Kumar, Nazir Sadar.
HOW SYSTEM FUNCTIONS
Kumar said those seeking permission for the use of loudspeakers in marriages could procure forms from room number 7 (Nazir Sadar’s office), fill them and submit them with the marriage card. He said the applications would be verified and officials would contact the local police station to do the rest of the verification. He said it took around two days to issue the permission that clearly stated that no loudspeaker would be played after 10pm. Besides, it also directed the applicants to not use the loudspeaker beyond the permissible limits. Still, getting permission for loudspeaker use in marriages is tough for many.
“Obtaining permission for use of loudspeaker is a tough task as we are already busy in marriage preparations. I submitted an application two days back but then I got a call that it was lost. I came again to submit it. The government order on loudspeakers is nothing but a pain for the public,” said Niraj Kumar, an applicant who lives in River Bank Colony and is seeking permission for DJ at his brother’s wedding.
Some others find the single window system a convenience.
RURAL PEOPLE IN A FIX
Unlike the urbanites who can avail of the single window facility with ease, rural people find getting loudspeaker permission no less than a nightmare. Though sub divisional magistrates (SDMs) are assigned the task to give permission in development blocks, due to lack of advertisement, application seekers often end up running from pillar to post. “I managed to get a form from Gosainganj police station for loudspeaker use at my daughter’s marriage on Thursday. They asked me to get it signed by the SDM Sarojini Nagar. I went to the SDM’s office where I was told that he was too busy in other work. I submitted my application at the office, where I was told to come after two or three days. I asked them to speed up the process but they refused. Finally, I got permission just two hours before my daughter’s marriage,” said Rajesh Kumar of Gosaiganj.