Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: PCMC promises to ease headache of getting income certificates

“To make the camps successful, we have provided adequate manpower at 123 centres where applications will be received. Coordinators, data entry operators, assistants and security personnel will be put in place. Officials have been instructed to ensure that day-to-day civic functioning is not affected,” Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said at a press conference at PCMC headquarters on Monday.

The scheme is being implemented by the state government through its Women and Child Welfare Department. “The aim of the scheme is to promote financial independence for women, sustained enhancements in their health and nutrition condition,” said the commissioner.

It is applicable to married women, widows, divorcees and at least one unmarried women. The beneficiary should have an Aadhar linked bank account. The annual income of the beneficiary’s family should not be more than Rs 2.5 lakh.

Two things that are mandatory are domicile certificate and income certificate. The civic chief said if a woman does not possess a domicile certificate, then 15-year-old proof of Voter-I card, school leaving certificate, birth certificate and ration card will do.

Asked as to how the PCMC seeks to remove the biggest hurdle of getting income certificates, the commissioner said, “Those who have yellow and orange ration cards do not need to submit income certificates,” he said.

Singh said those who do not have yellow and orange ration cards but whose income is below Rs 2.5 lakh annually, will be helped by PCMC and the district collectorate. “We will hold camps for such people in association with the state revenue department,” he said.

Singh said maximum cases of income certificates will be resolved by those who have yellow and orange ration cards.

The PCMC chief said the government’s talathi office issues income certificates. “One needs to get affidavits…But we will coordinate with the collectorate and try to simplify the procedure,” he said.

Women’s activist Lata Mahankale said, “There is absolute chaos at PCMC centres whenever such schemes are launched or even for getting any kind of certificates. There are no officials who will explain and guide citizens politely. Getting income certificate is a big pain. You are made to run from pillar to post. Dealing with government office is nothing short of a headache. PCMC should itself take up the responsibility of getting income certificate. It should not leave it to the district collectorate or the talathi office.”

Civic activist Kailas Jadhav said, “The biggest headache for women to get such benefits is the income certificates. From where will an ordinary housemaid bring an income certificate? She has no clue where to go, whom to approach. If the PCMC wants people to go to talathi office, then it will be another nightmare for them. The district collector’s offices are a bigtime headache.”