PM Narendra Modi pushes for self-attestation of documents

NEW DELHI: To make dealing with government agencies a simpler affair for citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a renewed push to allow people to self-attest their official documents and free them from the requirement of filing cumbersome notarised affidavits and clamber for gazetted officers to attest their identity and address proofs. “The PM has sought minimum use of affidavits and shift to self-certification, so as to benefit the common man,” said a statement by the PMO, terming the move as one that would bridge the governance deficit in the country. “This measure is a start in the direction of reforming the public service delivery system and bridging the governance deficit,” PMO said.

It is expected to benefit the people immensely, as all affidavits not required by law shall eventually be done away with,” the PMO said.

All union ministries and state governments have been asked to facilitate selfcertification of documents, the PMO said.

Apart from affidavits, the government wants selfcertification to replace the requirement of attestation by gazetted officers for several documents as well. “Obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only costs money to the poor citizen but also involves wastage of time of the citizens as well as of the government officials,” the administrative reforms and public grievances department has said in a missive to states and central ministries.