The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : For a more responsive office

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Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

For a more responsive office

K.S. Sudhi

Senior citizens find it difficult to access Kochi Corporation offices

Photo: Vipin Chandran

PATIENT WAIT: People waiting at the Janasevana Kendram at the Kochi Corporation office. —

KOCHI: There was no one to help 80-year-old Meenakshi Amma at the Corporation office.

Even at this age, she has to climb the three floors to the Vyttila zone office of the Kochi Corporation all alone. As she reached the office, she could hardly breathe and her hands were trembling uncontrollably. She has Parkinson’s disease. Meenakshi Amma came to the Corporation office to find out why a postman of her area came in search of her while she was staying at an old-age home.

Fortunately, Thampi, one of her acquaintances, noticed her and came out to help her.

On enquiry, it was found that her application for widow pension came to the Zone office for verification on July 17. However, the Building Inspector of the office, who has to verify the documents, is not there at this time. She is told that the Building Inspector might return by 1 p.m. Building Inspectors are field staff who have to go out for inspections. Hence, they may not be present every time in the office, explained a senior official of the zone office. Though not sure when the officer would return, she waited patiently for him.The Vyttila office of the Corporation is on the third floor of the building owned by the Corporation and the two lower floors have been rented out. The office is functioning on the third floor in contravention of a guideline issued by the government regarding offices which the public visit in large numbers.

The government directive is that such offices should function on the ground floor making it easily accessible. However, it could not be implemented here, as there is a shortage of space, said Mini Antony, Secretary of the Corporation.Meenakshi Amma is one of the hundreds of poor and destitute people who reach various offices of the Corporation in the city every day.

But there is no effective system to guide such persons who come to get Rs.200 a month as pension. An information counter operates only at the main office of the Kochi Corporation.

At the Janasevena Kendram functioning from the main office of the Corporation, people could be seen waiting for obtaining death and birth certificates. Some others were seen waiting for correcting the errors in certificates. Leela, a senior citizen residing near the KSRTC bus stand, was one of the applicants who were waiting at the Kendra on Tuesday. It has been over 20 days since she has been waiting for the death certificate of her husband.

“They have promised to give the certificate today and I am waiting for it,” mumbled Ms. Leela.

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