Updated on: Thursday, June 30, 2011
Confusion prevailed and tempers ran high at the citizens facilitation centre (CFC) at the district collectorate till late Tuesday night and even on Wednesday morning because the administration was unable to distribute certificates required for admissions to various educational courses. This despite the collectorate deploying additional staff for the purpose.
Things started getting out of control around 11.30 pm on Tuesday when some parents and students started shouting against the delay. With June 29 being the last date for engineering admissions, there was a large crowd at the centre. The police had to be called to disperse the crowd.
The situation was no different on Wednesday as the police bandobast was sought again. Prashant Lakade, a resident of Hadapsar, who has applied for a noncreamy layer certificate, said, "I have been waiting here since Tuesday and went home at 6 am on Wednesday before coming back to collect the document. I have been making trips of the CFC since June 24, but still the certificate has not been issued." Usually the applicant should receive the certificates a week after submitting an application, as is mentioned on the receipt given to the candidate at the time of submitting the application. But the time limit has not been adhered to.
"I applied for a caste certificate for my son on June 17. The admission forms for engineering course have to be submitted till 5 pm. It's already 2.15 pm and I have not received the certificate," said Dilip Belapurkar, a worried father.
Some applicants claimed that the authorities demanded different documents during each visit. "Initially, officials told us that the income proof of my father for the year 2010 – 11 would be adequate, but now they are demanding the same for the year 2011-12. It is not possible since the financial year has not ended," said Sagar Deshmukh, who had applied for a domicile certificate.
Sameer Tambe, another applicant for a non-creamy layer certificate, said, "My form was rejected as the officials demanded income proof for three years. Later, I was asked to submit an affidavit for the same but still my application was rejected."
Vishal Nanawane, a resident of Pimpri encountered similar problem. "I was supposed to receive my non-creamy layer certificate on June 22. Since then I have been making daily trips of the CFC. Earlier they had rejected my application as they demanded two years income proof."
"We have attached all the required documents as mentioned in the form. But our application is pending since June 16. No explanation has been given by officials for the delay," said Vinanti Neve, who had applied for a caste certificate.
Some parents have been coming daily, hoping that the certificates will be issued soon. "I have been coming for my ward's certificate every day since June 17. Yesterday, the police were called around 10.30 pm as the crowd went berserk. I waited till 1.30 am but did not get the certificate," said a parent who had applied for a non-creamy layer certificate.
Many parents had taken leave from work. Deepali Mahamuni, a nurse at Sassoon hospital said, "I have taken leave from work to get domicile certificates for my two sons. Initially, they were going to be issued from schools, but the decision was changed at the last moment and we were told that we will get them at the CFC. We have no idea whether the documents we submitted for getting the certificate are with the school or with officials. We are in a hopeless situation."
Times of India