Jaipur's Civic Merger Throws Essential Services Into Chaos
The recent merger of Jaipur's two municipal corporations has plunged essential civic services into complete disarray, creating widespread uncertainty among both citizens and municipal staff. The administrative restructuring has left people struggling to obtain critical documents just as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll is underway, with the December 4 deadline rapidly approaching.
Document Crisis Grips Zone Offices
Across multiple zone offices in Jaipur, officials have reportedly stopped processing applications for routine certificates, citing unclear work allocation following the corporate restructuring. Residents seeking domicile certificates, birth and death certificates, or attempting to make changes in Aadhaar and Jan Aadhaar details are being turned away empty-handed.
At the Kishanpole zone office, frustrated residents are being asked to return after 30 days because "work distribution is still unclear" according to officials. The situation has created growing panic among citizens who need these documents to meet the SIR requirements.
Citizens Voice Their Frustrations
Javed Ahmed, who has visited the zone office for six consecutive days to update his Jan Aadhaar details, shared his ordeal. "Whenever I go there, they either say the officer is unavailable or that work hasn't been assigned yet. When we ask why, they say the two corporations just merged and it will take time," he explained.
Salim, who needs to verify his family's details from the 2010 National Population Register, faces similar challenges. "The website clearly states that copies are available with the municipal corporation, but the office claims they have no such records. We also needed a death certificate for a family member, but that too isn't being processed," he stated.
Officials Blamed for Service Breakdown
Former councillor Mohammad Zakariya has squarely blamed JMC's officials for the complete breakdown in services. "People are facing difficulties because many SIR-related documents are essential. Not all tasks fall under the corporation, but for Jan Aadhaar, Aadhaar correction, and birth and death certificates, the first approval is from the deputy commissioner. Here, the DCs simply don't want to work," he alleged.
The timing of this administrative chaos couldn't be worse, with the December 4 SIR deadline creating additional pressure on citizens who require these documents for electoral roll verification. The merger, intended to streamline municipal operations, has instead created a bureaucratic nightmare that shows no immediate signs of resolution.
