The Calcutta Municipal Corporation on Saturday launched the option to apply online for birth certificates through its website, a move that is likely to help hundreds who found it difficult to visit a civic office to apply for the certificate or those who stay outside the city.

Applicants have to visit the website https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/KMCPortalHome1.jsp. On the right hand side menu there is the option ‘online birth certificate’. The applicant can create an account or log in by receiving a one-time password (OTP) in the mobile phone.

Firhad Hakim, the chairperson of the board of administrators of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) announced the launch of the system on Saturday. “People can now apply online to get a birth certificate. They can also submit the documents online. The certificates can be collected physically from our offices at a chosen date and time,” said Hakim. “Hospitals and nursing homes can also log in and enlist a child’s birth records in the new system,” Hakim added.

Earlier, those applying for a birth certificate had to apply at the borough executive health officer’s office or in the headquarters of the CMC. “Usually, birth certificate records are entered in our computers within a month from the date of birth of the child. Anyone coming after that can get the birth certificate. We issue free birth certificates if the application is made within a year from the date of birth. If the application is made after a year then Rs 100 is charged for each copy,” said a senior official of the CMC.

Officials of the CMC said that the online application system will allow the applicant to choose a date and time to visit the CMC as per their convenience to collect the certificate, an option that was not available earlier when the applicant had to come at the date given by civic body’s officials posted at the counter. “The payment of fees can also be made online,” said the official.

During physical collection of the certificate, the applicant has to bring original documents that will be verified at the counter before the certificate is handed over, said an official. “We usually prefer that either of the parents come with their identity proof to collect the birth certificate. In case that is not possible, the parents should give an authorisation letter to the person who comes to collect the certificate,” said an official.

Applicants who visit the headquarters of the CMC have to drop their applications in a drop box nowadays, a system that was introduced after the pandemic to avoid long queues that was the feature before the pandemic. The application letter must contain the applicant’s phone number. But there was no way to know if the application was being processed till the time the applicant received a call from the CMC. The online application gives a sense of assurance that the application would reach the right hands, said one official.

Binod Kumar, the commissioner of the (CMC) said correction of errors can be done through the online process also. “People can apply for new birth certificates as well as for correcting errors in an existing certificate,” said Kumar.

Children who are born in a hospital within the Calcutta municipal area will get the birth certificate from the CMC. “If the place of birth is in Calcutta municipal area then CMC will issue the birth certificate. The place of residence does not matter,” said one official.