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Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Monday said that the abolition of seeking affidavits saved Rs 300 crore annually for the public. Accepting self-certification of documents also restored trust and dignity of the citizens, he added.
In a statement issued here, Badal said it was found that of 2.3 million services delivered through Suwidha Kendras, 1.5 million services pertain to attestation of affidavits.
"During admissions in educational institutes and applications in quest of government services, applicants rush to get their certificates attested from gazetted officers that led to harassment. Keeping in view this cumbersome procedure, the Punjab government decided to do away with affidavits and attestations on priority basis," he said.
Badal added the Punjab government identified only 12 services where an affidavit was mandatory under state and Central laws. He said the total number of services related to affidavits scaled down from 1.5 million to 320,000.
