ProMASS, Agartala: Sep 9, 2016: Citizens applying for Passports in Tripura are not getting ‘appointment’ even in 9-10 months after duly filling up online forms. One of the applicants, Shyamal Chaudhury alleged he applied for an International Passport in February, 2016 and yet to get an appointment. Despite several visits to Agartala Passport Seva Kendra, Chaudhury could not ascertain reasons behind delay in getting an appointment. Like Chaudhury several applicants in Tripura are endlessly waiting for getting appointments.
As part of Digital India initiative by PM Narendra Modi, Common Service Centres (CSCs) in Tripura became popular centres in rural areas for filing online passport forms. However, very soon CSC operators known as Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) realized about inexplicable delay in getting appointments. “Many people are visiting my CSC for passport service. But due to uncertainty in getting appointments, I am not providing the service and losing a good amount of business, said Biplab Majumder of a CSC in Bankumari area under AMC in West Tripura. Similar sentiments have been echoed by a group of other VLEs.
Passport Seva Kendra Officials are blaming slow internet speed for delaying in getting appointments. Whatever is the reason behind delay in appointments, people are suffering and importance of Digital India Mission has been diluted by a large extent. Before such internet based systems were come in force, the situation was much better, said a veteran whose son applied for passport.
A group of agitated applicants once rushed the Seva Kendra and vandalized with any positive change of reality. Blaming the Ministry of External Affairs, Shyamal Chaudhury stated, the Central Govt is good at speaking a lot but actually doing nothing. Summerising the plight of applicants and VLEs, Biplab Majumder stated, It appears that Agartala Passport Seva Kendra is determined to prove Digital India Mission a farce.
