Raipur: In a departure from the past practice and towards easing the lives of citizens travelling 20-25 km to procure a caste certificate, the Bastar Collector Vijay Dayaram K, has brought innovation in governance, eliminating the previous challenges.

Under the leadership of Collector Vijay Dayaram K, the district administration has successfully implemented ‘Mocho Chinhaari Abhiyan’ (‘Meri Pehchan’ in Hindi), a transformative initiative bringing convenience for people residing in remote villages of Bastar.

Streamlining access for rural families

Earlier, the process of obtaining caste certificates was an onerous task for parents residing in the remote villages of Bastar district. The arduous journey of travelling 20 to 25 km to the tehsil office for obtaining caste certificates brought an undue burden on families.

Recognising the necessity for a more accessible approach, the District Collector initiated the ‘Mocho Chinhaari Abhiyan’ in July 2023. This innovative campaign, a collaborative effort between the Revenue Department and the Women and Child Development Department, aims to simplify the caste certificate acquisition process, especially for young children.

This initiative marks a departure from the conventional method of getting the caste certificates through cumbersome processes. Now the certificates are being directly issued at Anganwadi Kendras.

A two-phased approach

Led by the Women and Child Development Department, the initiative has had a profound impact, targeting a total of 18,926 children. With over 13,000 certificates already issued, the campaign has successfully covered 90% of the children in the Bastar development region. The meticulously planned campaign unfolds in two distinct phases, ensuring a methodical and effective approach.

In the initial phase, Anganwadi workers identify children not having caste certificates, and then they proactively engage with their parents. Application forms, along with necessary documents, are filled and submitted to the tehsil office, bridging the gap between families and essential administrative services. The second phase involves the tehsil office verifying applications and subsequently issuing caste certificates through Anganwadi Kendras to both the children and their parents.

Ease of life for holistic development

Previously, caste certificates were issued in schools. But now this initiative has allowed parents and guardians to obtain them directly from Anganwadi Kendras. Testifying to the success of this endeavour, Dhanurjay Bharti from Gram Dhanpur said, "Now, the form is being filled in Anganwadi, and I am very grateful to the district administration for issuing my daughter's caste certificate through the Anganwadi Kendra."

The District Collector said, "The objective of this campaign is to make administrative services easily accessible to people living in remote areas of Bastar." The initiative not only represents a paradigm shift in administrative practices but also addresses the practical challenges faced by parents and guardians.

Fostering inclusive development

The ‘Mocho Chinhaari Abhiyan’ signifies the will to change the lives of people living in remote villages of Bastar. By enabling the issuance of caste certificates from Anganwadi Kendras, the initiative reduces the need for families to undertake arduous journeys to tehsil offices. This streamlined process also facilitates greater participation in scholarship programs and various government schemes.