Delhi: Applying for public identity documents may soon be just a call away!

Ever dreaded having to apply for a public identity document, what with all the running around and the red tape involved? You may be in for a pleasant surprise. If the Delhi government is to be believed, by 2018, people will be able to apply for these documents from the comfort of their homes, through a call centre, and even have them delivered to their doorstep.

It could be a driving licence, death and birth certificates, or even a domicile certificate — it can all be done through a call centre.  

Speaking to the media, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the government will introduce a system in the next three months to enable people to apply for all public documents through a dedicated call centre. He added said that the government had planned to hire a private agency to handle the implementation. “The applicant will have to place his or her request by dialling the call centre. Thereafter, the agency will assign a ‘mobile sahayak’, or an assistant, to visit his or her residence with all relevant forms and machines for application, and then finally even deliver the documents when they are ready," he added.

“The sahayak will come equipped with a biometric device and a camera to the applicant's house. For home delivery of documents, a nominal fee will be charged, which is yet to be fixed,” Sisodia said.

People will, however, have to visit government offices for documents that cannot be issued without verifying physical presence. They will also be needed to appear for a driving test before applying for a driving licence.

“The service shall be rolled out in two phases. In the first phase, up to 40 certificates will be covered,” Sisodia said. These include caste certificate, income certificate, driving licence, ration card, domicile certificate, marriage certificate, fresh water connection papers, duplicate vehicle RC and change of address in the RC.