Birth certificates can be downloaded

CHENNAI: A click of the computer mouse is all that is required now to get copies of birth and death certificates issued by the Chennai Corporation.

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday launched the Corporation's online facility to issue birth and death certificates. He said the certificates could be downloaded from any part of the world free of cost.

"The facility is easy to use and people can save a lot of time," he said. The Corporation's website ( www.chennaicorporation.gov.in) has a link for 'online civic services.' The user can click the link and choose the birth or death certificate option. The search criteria include name, registration number and parents' names. Any two criteria need to be filled to launch the search. Once the certificate is found online, it can be printed out. About 1.06 lakh births and 41,000 deaths are registered in the city every year.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said the website had received thousands of clicks recently in response to the online services offered.

"About 92 per cent of the clicks are to view birth, death and property tax details," he said. The Corporation will soon inaugurate online booking for community halls and mortuary vans