6 months on, MBMC corporators still waiting for SEO status

It has been more than six months since elections were held and results declared in August 2017, however, for the 95 elected representatives in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), the wait for official rubber stamps and seals officiating them to attest documents remains unending.

Several requests by the corprators and even the mayor has gone to deaf years, thus exposing the apathy of the district administration.

This despite of the fact that the state government has already issued the gazette notification of all the 95 corporators, this followed by official registration with the divisional commissioner in context to formation of groups intimating their allegiance and support to their respective political party, cluster or individual representation in the general body house.

“As corporators, we always remain available in our particular wards, thus prompting citizens to approach us for various civic issues including attestation of documents and even recommendation letters. However, it has been more than six months, we are yet to get the certificates and needed stamps rendering us helpless,” said BJP corporator Suresh Khandelwal who has sent several requests and subsequent reminders to the District Collector office.

Although the government has adopted the system of self-attestation certificates, photographs and marksheets, several departments still insist on documents attested by a gazetted officer who are even empowered for income certification.

As per rules the district collector publishes the final list of Special Executive Officers (SEOs) – two per thousand voters-after receiving approval from the government. However, since the new government took on the reins of the state, more than three years back it is still to appoint SEOs.