CCTV cameras to weed out touts

The department had also started organising camps at educational institutes and companies where application forms could be filled rather than at Chembur office. Students and government employees were made to fill application forms for the certificates at these camps. However touts still managed to operate from outside the department’s office.

Yashwant More,Research officer,Caste Validity Committee of the Social Welfare and Justice department,at Chembur,said,“We received number of complaints about touts charging money to get the certificates. So we started organising camps at institutes and companies thinking it would reduce our load by 20-30 per cent,and cut down scope of touts duping people.”

The touts approach people and charge Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 for a certificate. “We have installed three CCTV cameras,all with audio recording. One is installed at the gate,the second in the hall where the public hearing takes place and the third in the office area where application work is done. In this manner,we will be able to monitor every one coming to the office and so touts can be nabbed,” said More.

More added,“We always take suggestions of public visiting our office. Most of them suggested setting up camps at educational institutes. And in this manner we can maintain transparency.”

Students often complain that the procedure to get caste validity certificate has always been a headache. The authorities at social welfare and justice department said that in order to avoid long queues and lengthy procedures many students pay touts to get the certificates.

While the department is working to curb touts,students say that it is easier to get certificates through them as they do not have visit the social welfare and justice department again and again. Shardul Kamble,a student TYB.Com,currently making rounds of the social welfare and justice department’s office,said,“At a time when I am supposed study for my TYB.Com exam I am busy making rounds of the department office. We have to wait in queue all day for the application process. Some officials are very rude and never provide proper information.”

Rushabh Jadhav,a student of electronic engineering said,“ The process of getting caste validity certificate is very slow. I had applied for the certificate nine months ago but have not received the certificate yet. I hope the new system would improve this.”