Deputy commissioner Kumara has issued a strong warning that strict legal action will be taken against individuals involved in the issuance of fake birth and death certificates in the district. He was speaking at the district-level birth and death coordination committee meeting and the district-level crop cutting experiment and agricultural statistics committee meeting held on Monday.

Timely registration stressed to prevent misuse

Kumara stressed that village panchayat secretaries are the authorised officials to register births and deaths. Certificates must be obtained within 30 days of the event, he said. If the deadline is missed, citizens must approach the tahsildar, and if more than a year has passed, the certificate can only be issued through a court order.

He noted that a lack of awareness in rural areas often results in delays and misunderstandings, creating room for misuse and fraudulent intermediaries. Urban local bodies and village panchayats have been directed to intensify public awareness efforts to educate residents about the correct procedures.

Hospitals too have been slow in submitting birth registration details, contributing to delays. This year, 30 children aged over one year in the district have not yet been registered, the DC said. He directed officials to ensure zero delay in registrations and emphasised verifying parents’ names and addresses accurately at the time of issuing certificates.

Anganwadi and ASHA workers asked to step up awareness

To close the information gap, Kumara instructed anganwadi workers and ASHA workers to educate families about the importance of securing birth and death certificates within 30 days. Early registration, he said, not only prevents bureaucratic hurdles but also safeguards families from future legal complications.

Action planned against exploitation of farmers

During the meeting, concerns were also raised about middlemen troubling farmers by fixing arbitrary rates for harvesting paddy and ragi. Kumara directed officers to convene a meeting with stakeholders and fix appropriate and uniform harvesting rates across the district.

He also instructed officials to initiate action against harvesting machine owners who charge farmers more than the approved rates. Ensuring fairness in agricultural operations, he said, is essential to support farmers during the current harvest season.