The registry office at Rudrapur, the headquarters of Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand, has launched an initiative to check corruption.
People coming to the office are informed through a public announcement system to stay away from brokers who ask for bribe to get things done. The sub-registrar advises people to contact him if someone asks for money.
“When I came here last month, there were many complaints about bribery and brokers. I took a meeting of the staff and decided to set up an announcement system on our premises to make people aware of corruption,” said Mahesh Dwivedi, in-charge of Rudrapur’s sub-registrar office.
“I recorded advice and warning in my own voice and started playing it through a loudspeaker. It has been placed on the rooftop and plays from 10am to 5pm every day,” Dwivedi said. “People are informed about fees for forms and pro-formas that are used in the registry process and asked to take receipts.”
People are told to meet the sub-registrar if someone asks for bribe to get their work done. “On an average, 15-16 registries are done every day here. Now, nobody asks for extra money beyond the actual fee; brokers have disappeared from the premises,” Dwivedi said.
Subhash Chhabra, former president of the district bar association, said, “I appreciate the initiative of sub-registrar against brokers; otherwise, this office had become an adda (den) of corruption. Rates were fixed for every work and document. There is some relief since Dwivedi took charge.”
{{/usCountry}}Subhash Chhabra, former president of the district bar association, said, “I appreciate the initiative of sub-registrar against brokers; otherwise, this office had become an adda (den) of corruption. Rates were fixed for every work and document. There is some relief since Dwivedi took charge.”
{{/usCountry}}Shashiprabha, a woman from a nearby village who had come to the office this week, said, “I don’t know what was the practice here earlier, but my work went smoothly. I paid fee and got receipt; no extra money was given for the work.”
District magistrate Neeraj Khairwal said, “Other than the sub-registrar office, our efforts are on to wipe out corruption at all offices. Honest officers will be appreciated and stern action will be taken against those found involved in corruption.”