The central government is making new changes with the passport application and verification processes. While there have been passport seva centres functioning exclusively so far, the central government has plans to open up these centres inside post offices. Verification of passport has been carried out by police officials, but now this will be performed by post masters. These are plans devised by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Apart from this, passport applicants find it difficult to fill the passport application forms. To help them do it with ease, plans are in discussion to make special arrangements are to be made in post offices. Further, post masters are to be appointed as Passport Verification Officer.
The entire process of passport application is made online. This has made the application process difficult for most applicants. People are being charged for aiding them to fill the application form, complaint most applicants. Hence, to sort out this issue, the central government has come up with the new idea of launching passport services in post offices.
The central government has arrived at this conclusion as there are increasing complaints about the money charged for helping people to fill application form, in spite of having launched online means to apply for passport. Agents and middlemen fleece the applicants by charging them for filling the form.
At present, post offices are being used only to distribute passport to the applicants. Now, discussions are on to figure out the feasibility of the idea of using post offices for passport application. Furthermore, those who apply for passport in tatkaal are thought of to be helped with services by post masters.
In addition, villagers must be familiar with the post masters in their locality. This will be an added advantage when they are appointed for the job. The final call on this will be made shortly.