The ultra-modern Suvidha Centre was the government’s initiative to provide transparent and hassle-free services such as issuance of SC/BC certificates, domicile, birth and death certificates, ration cards, driving licences, etc, under one roof. However, due to the absence of any senior official to supervise the day-to-day functioning of the centre, the staff was found either busy taking personal phone calls or chatting among themselves during visiting hours.

“I missed my turn for the driving licence, and later when I came back to inquire about it, the gentleman on the other side of the window started shouting at me,” said a trader on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, this correspondent found that at one of the windows meant for the issuance of affidavits, there was no one to attend the work. However, as the queue got longer one of the officials started shouting at the public. “I am busy and it will be lunch time after 15 minutes, so please come after that,” he said, despite more than half an hour still remaining in the lunch break.

“I have been standing here for the past two hours and whenever I approach the staff for my documents they tell me to wait for another 15 minutes,” said another applicant who had applied for renewal of a driving license.

“They should value our time, as we are the ones who take out time to come here for our respective needs,” he added.