Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday announced two major citizen-centric initiatives to simplify access to government services by introducing free doorstep delivery of caste certificates and Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) across the state.
The government said the initiative aims to make essential documents easily accessible while helping eligible voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Citizens will receive the certificates at their homes and will also be able to download them free of cost through dedicated online portals or obtain printed copies from government facilitation centres.
Doorstep delivery of certificates
Launching the programme in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the Karnataka government has introduced a first-of-its-kind initiative to deliver caste certificates and PRCs directly to citizens.
He said government officials will visit households with printed copies of the certificates, while eligible beneficiaries can also access the documents digitally through newly launched government websites.
“The Karnataka government has come out with a new concept to give you the caste certificate and the PRC at your doorstep,” Shivakumar said.
According to the government, nearly 4.85 crore families already have income and caste certificate records in the Revenue Department database, enabling authorities to distribute the documents efficiently.
Initiative linked to voter verification
Shivakumar said the Permanent Residence Certificate initiative is intended to safeguard the voting rights of eligible citizens during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He stressed that every eligible voter should be able to exercise the right to vote without unnecessary hurdles.
“We want the voters of Karnataka to be safe. We don’t want anyone to misuse the process. Every voter should have their right to vote and the right to live with dignity,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged residents to cooperate with Booth Level Officers by completing and returning enumeration forms issued as part of the electoral roll revision exercise.
Digital access and authentication
To improve transparency and ease of access, the government has developed a dedicated mobile application that will record beneficiaries’ Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers and acknowledgements after certificates are delivered.
Citizens will also be able to download caste certificates free of cost using:
- RD number
- Aadhaar number
- Ration card number
The same facilities will be available through designated government assistance centres.
The government has also established facilitation centres at the hobli level to provide printed copies of caste certificates and other essential documents free of cost.
Officials said nearly 57 lakh caste certificates have already been linked to beneficiaries’ mobile numbers, and download links have been shared through WhatsApp and SMS.
Eligibility for Permanent Residence Certificate
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said applicants can obtain a Permanent Residence Certificate if they satisfy any one of the prescribed eligibility conditions.
These include:
- Birth in Karnataka.
- Continuous residence in the state for at least 10 years.
- Studying in Karnataka for 10 academic years.
- Having parents or a spouse who is a permanent resident of Karnataka.
- Ownership or lawful occupation of property in the state.
- Enrolment in the electoral roll.
- Government service by the applicant or parents for at least seven years.
He said applicants meeting any one of these conditions would be eligible for the certificate.
Grievance redressal mechanism
The government has designated appellate authorities to address issues relating to applications and documentation.
The grievance mechanism will be overseen by:
- Tahsildars
- Assistant Commissioners
- Deputy Commissioners
Officials said PDF copies of nearly 4.85 crore certificates have already been shared with Deputy Commissioners for distribution through district and taluk-level officials.
BJP questions validity
The initiative has drawn criticism from the BJP, which questioned the legal validity of the certificates.
Responding to the criticism, Shivakumar said the state government was acting strictly within the legal framework and in accordance with the Election Commission’s guidelines.
He maintained that the government was fully empowered to issue the certificates and that its objective was to ensure every eligible citizen receives the necessary documentation.
“The opposition is free to raise objections, but it is the government’s responsibility to ensure people receive their rightful documents,” he said.
The state government said the initiative is designed to improve access to public services while ensuring that eligible citizens can easily obtain essential documents without visiting government offices.
