Punjab re-engineers passport verification process-Sukhbir Badal

Punjab re-engineers passport verification process-Sukhbir Badal

CHANDIGARH : Punjab set an example before the nation in community policing by re-engineering the decades old police related administration and service system into a quicker, transparent and citizen friendly besides establishing an effective and quick feedback mechanism to serve the people in an efficient way.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accompanied by DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh and DGP community policing Mr. SK Sharma while interacting with media after inaugurating the new office of the community policing wing here today, said Punjab led the nation in “improvement in governance” by taking new initiatives like setting up of Sanjh Kendras and Unified Service Centres besides instituting a Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (PBIP). He said that after following abolition of affidavits by Punjab now the Union Government also studying one stop clearance mechanism “PBIP” to form a similar national level body for speedy approval of investment projects.
Badal said Saanjh Kendras have provided big respite to common masses as huge number of 17,10,681 services were obtained in last one year and out of which 30% were only passport verifications. He informed that state government has started a simplified as well as quick police verification system for getting a passport. Under the new system the applicant will be informed through SMS about the receipt of his application from the passport office followed by a call to fix an appointment for visit by the police for verification. The appointment would be confirmed through SMS and applicant to be informed about the prescribed fee.
“For Police verification special dedicated teams equipped with motorcycles and mobile/tablets are designated at Saanjh Kendras. Simultaneously the crime records will be checked to verify the criminal antecedents of the applicant. This initiative is being extended to other verifications being undertaken by the police such as service verification, character verification etc.”, he added.
He said the robustness of this re-engineered process lies in the feedback mechanism. A window for recording feedback in this regard is provided to the citizens on the Punjab Police website. In addition, police officers have been tasked to make random calls to get feedback not only about the fee charged but also about the experience of the applicant during the process of police verification.

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