ELVINO ARAUJO
VASCO: Bowing down to general public anger, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to reduce the fees for birth and death certificates from Rs 100 to Rs 50.
The residents are, however, unimpressed by this steep reduction and insist that the council should take concrete steps to recover the dues from defaulters, rather than penalizing the common man.
According to MMC sources, the decision to reduce the fees for birth and death certificates from Rs 100 to Rs 50 was primarily due to sharp opposition from the public.
“The council is expected to place the reduced rate before the council meeting scheduled in the first week of November,” said the source.
When contacted, MMC Chief Officer Megnath Porob confirmed that the council had decided to decrease the fees for birth and death certificates from Rs 100 to Rs 50.
When reminded that despite the proposed reduction in rates, the fees for birth and death certificates were still hiked from Rs 15 to Rs 50, Porob said: “The fees have been increased after almost 20 years.”
“People who were earning Rs 5000 about two decades ago, are now drawing Rs 25,000 and they can easily afford to pay the fees for birth and death certificates,” said Porob.
Responding to claims that inflation had made it difficult for people to pay the enhanced rates for either of the two certificates, Porob replied that the council would have to decide on a further reduction of fees for birth and death certificates.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Bhavana Bhosle justified the hike in fees for birth and death certificates. “Payment of Rs 100 for the fees is not much for a common man,” said Bhosle.
When brought to her notice that instead of increasing the fees of certificates, the council could have targeted those shopkeepers undertaking business without valid trade licenses and those defaulting in arrears, Bhonsle said: “The council has decided to decrease the fees from Rs 100 to Rs 50 and this decision will be taken in the next council meeting.”
Despite the reduction in fees, a resident, A D’Cruz, stated that the common man is being taxed from all sides.
“And adding to this is the increase in fees for birth and death certificates fees. Instead of taxing the common man, the MMC should penalize the tax defaulters and recover the arrears, which would help the council mobilize additional funds,” said D’ Cruz.
Said another citizen, Ramakant Dhuri: “The council has failed to take up any developmental works in various respective wards and are only interested in their own interests. If the council is so concerned about its revenue, they should recover it from the companies and others shops and establishment operating in the municipal jurisdiction. If not, then they should reduce the salaries drawn from the council funds.”
Another citizen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pointed out that while MMC has been charging Rs 100 for birth/death certificates, Panjim has been charging only Rs 10 to issue similar certificates.
“While it is surprising that the council has been charging such a hefty amount from the poor people, we should not blame the councillors as at the end of the day, people ignore all their drawbacks and elect them during polls. It is time that people reject all present councillors and elect new faces as this is the only way to teach the existing councillors a lesson,” said the resident.
