Udupi: Udupi Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T.K. has directed officials to ensure that details of every birth and death registered in the district are recorded accurately and without errors. She stressed that birth and death certificates are important documents for citizens’ future requirements and called for greater care and accountability during the registration process.
She was speaking at the district-level Birth and Death Coordination Committee meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Rajatadri, Manipal, on October 6.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed registrars, sub-registrars and data entry operators to follow the prescribed procedures carefully and verify documents before entering details into official records.
Officials told to avoid errors in registration
Swaroopa T.K. highlighted several errors that can occur during birth and death registration. These include incorrect entries or changes in parents’ names, gender, names, dates and addresses, as well as registrations being made outside the jurisdiction of the concerned authority.
She also pointed out the need for greater scrutiny while issuing death certificates. Officials should not issue certificates without carrying out the required local verification, including a mahazar where applicable.
The Deputy Commissioner directed officials to verify original documents before recording details. She also stressed that corrections or additions involving a child’s name or the names of biological parents must be carried out strictly according to the prescribed rules.
Where a child’s name or biological parents’ names are being added or corrected, the required documents and joint signatures of the biological parents must be obtained.
She further suggested that, wherever possible, a draft copy of the registration details should be shown to the concerned applicants before the final record is completed. This would provide an opportunity to identify and correct errors at an early stage.
Portal issue over recording cause of death
The meeting also discussed a technical issue concerning the registration of deaths of children who die at birth.
Officials informed the meeting that the existing portal does not provide an option to record the cause of death in such cases. Swaroopa directed the concerned officials to bring the issue to the government’s attention and seek the creation of an appropriate provision in the portal.
She also instructed officials to exercise caution while issuing Non-Availability Certificates for birth and death records.
Such certificates should be issued only after verifying the relevant documents and confirming that the event falls within the jurisdiction of the concerned registration unit. If documents submitted by an applicant appear to be fake, police verification should be completed before a certificate is issued.
Officials asked to respond properly to court cases
Swaroopa also addressed cases involving corrections to birth and death records that come before courts.
She instructed officials to appear when summoned and carry all relevant records and documents to present their position before the court. If the concerned official is unable to appear personally, a representative should be deputed to avoid unnecessary absence.
The Deputy Commissioner also called for periodic inspections of birth and death registration units to ensure that the process is functioning smoothly.
She directed authorities to provide adequate training to registrars, sub-registrars and data entry operators before assigning them responsibilities related to registration.
The emphasis on training is aimed at reducing errors and ensuring that citizens receive accurate certificates without unnecessary delays.
Udupi records over 8,000 births and 8,000 deaths
According to District Statistics Officer M.V. Doddamani, Udupi district currently has 574 birth and death registration units.
Since January 2026, the district has recorded 8,351 births, including 1,256 in rural areas and 7,095 in urban areas.
During the same period, 8,982 deaths were registered. Of these, 5,399 were recorded in rural areas and 3,583 in urban areas. The district has also registered 39 stillbirths during the period.
The figures underline the scale of the registration system and the importance of maintaining accurate records across hundreds of registration units.
The district’s sex ratio was reported at 912, according to the statistics presented at the meeting.
Crop survey reports also reviewed
Apart from birth and death registration, the meeting also covered crop survey-related work.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed officials to complete the field realignment report for crop surveys covering the monsoon, post-monsoon and summer seasons within the stipulated period.
She directed officials to consolidate the reports at the taluk level and submit the compiled information to the district administration.
The data is expected to support the administration in maintaining updated records related to agricultural activities and crop surveys in the district.
Officials attend district-level meeting
Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Gadyal, Urban Development Cell Project Director Subrahmanya Shetty, Joint Director of Horticulture Kshama Patil, District Information Officer Manjunath B, District Health Officer Dr Basavaraj Hubballi and other district-level officials attended the meeting.
The directions issued by the Deputy Commissioner focus on improving the reliability of vital records, strengthening verification procedures and reducing errors in certificates that citizens rely on for various legal, administrative and personal requirements.
Accurate birth and death registration is particularly important because these records are used for a range of services and official processes. The district administration’s emphasis on verification, staff training and periodic inspections is therefore intended to make the registration system more reliable and responsive to citizens.