Staff shortage at SCB office hits commoners

HYDERABAD: Applications  for birth, death and other certificates have been piling up at the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) office for the past three months as a majority of its staff members have been deputed to the various check-posts for the collection of octroi and toll tax.Of the 45 divisional officers, 36 are on such deputation. As a result, applicants like R Rajaiah, a resident of Mud-fort, are being forced to run around at the SCB office to obtain certificates. “I came this morning to apply for a birth certificate for my daughter but  I was asked to come in the evening as the officer concerned was not in the office. After submitting the application,  I was told to return after three-four days to get the certificate,” he told City Express.In fact, timings for submission of applications and disbursal of certificates have also been changed. Applicants will have to submit forms between 10.30 am and 1pm and the certificates will be issued between 3.30 p.m and 5 p.m.The SCB has about 290 colonies and eight wards, comprising 4 lakh people, under its limits. “Files are pending. We are unable to clear them despite working for over 10 hours a day,” said M J Joseph Celestine, tax superintendent, SCB. “More than half of the staff have been deputed to check-posts to collect octroi and toll tax. Works like issuing certificates and verification of documents  have been pending and applicants are visiting the office more than three times and are waiting for hours together,” admitted an official who wished to remain anonymous.“The SCB’s 36 divisional officers have been sent to the check-posts to work along with 144 class IV employees until private contractors of octroi and toll tax come forward,” said chief executive officer of SCB S Balakrishana. “This is why we are adjusting with a few staff members for the time being,” he added.J Pratap, a board member of SCB, said, “The SCB will sort-out the problems of shortage of staff in a couple of weeks as some contractors are coming forward to take up octroi and toll tax collection contract.”