Punjab to shift all verification services online from January 1
PTC Web Desk: Starting January 1, all verification-related services in Punjab will be available online, as the Punjab Government prepares to phase out offline verification systems. Punjab’s Cabinet Minister Aman Arora announced this initiative in, Chandigarh, where he also launched a project for six types of online verification services.
The minister highlighted that the move would eliminate the need for physical visits to government offices, save time and money for citizens, and introduce greater transparency in the system. Punjab is set to become the first state in India to fully digitise its verification processes.
Aman Arora said preparations were underway to digitise 95 services offered by various departments, including the Revenue Department, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Electricity Department.
To make service centres more accessible, the government was introducing a WhatsApp chatbot service. Citizens can book appointments from home by simply messaging their requirements on WhatsApp. Appointments will be issued along with an online token, and the entire process will be conducted in Punjabi, ensuring user convenience.
The system integrates patwaris, sarpanches, councilors, and numberdars. Once an online application is submitted, the verification request is routed to the patwari, who forwards it to the relevant sarpanch or councillor for processing.
Earlier, citizens often had to visit local sarpanches or other officials for document verification, leading to delays and inconvenience. This new project aims to address these issues by digitising the entire process.
The project includes key certificates such as resident certificate, caste certificate, income certificate, EWS certificate, and Dogra certificate. A comprehensive setup for these services has already been established, following a study tour of southern states by Punjab ministers.
- PTC NEWS
