Punjab Government has saved Rs300 crore annually by doing away with the affidavits. “Abolition of seeking affidavits by the State Government not only saved Rs300 crore annually of public but also restored trust and dignity of citizens by accepting self-certification of their documents,” said the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Monday. He said that it was found that out 22.68 lakh services delivered through Suwidha Kendras, 14.8 lakh pertains to attestation of affidavits.
“During admissions in educational institutes and applications in quest of Government services, applicants rush to get their certificates attested from gazetted officers that led to harassment,” he said. Keeping in view this cumbersome procedure, Punjab Government had done away with seeking of affidavits and attestations on priority basis,” he added. Sukhbir said that Punjab Government identified only 12 services where an affidavit was mandatory under State and Central laws.
“Total number of services relating to affidavits scaled down from 14.8 lakh to 3.20 lakh. “Affidavits for 88 services have been waved off,” he said. Targeting the trust deficit between government towards citizen and vice-versa in traditional governance, Sukhbir said that conventional system was also characterised by lack of respect and dignity to citizens.