Duplicate certificates filling DGE’s coffers

The Directorate of Government Examination has been entrusted in issuing duplicate certificates for the people (once student), who missed the certificates either due to negligence or during natural calamity.

A back-of-the-envelope calculation through Tamil Nadu Government Gazette document shows that the school education department receives an average of about 400 requests a month for the issue of new alterative certificates.

In addition, people also seek typewriting exam certificates, diploma certificates in teachers’ training and in music, and other diplomas including ITI from Tamil Nadu government. With each duplicate certificate costing between Rs 500 and 700 depending on the request, it helps the government in getting several lakhs of rupees per year.

During the last 10 years according to the estimation, the government has earned around Rs 3 crore without spending too much for the process. Going by the calculations, the total request for the issuance of alternative certificates per year comes roughly about 5,000, which would give the exchequer to the tune of about Rs 30 lakh.

A senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next that certificates of Class 10 is very important, “These certificates are required in higher studies, procuring passport and availing other government schemes,” he said.

Interestingly, the State Government Gazette printed in December 2018, shows that a person around the age of 51 years, who has completed his Class 10 in 1983, applied for a duplicate certificate.

According to the procedure, immediately on loss of original certificate, the candidate must lodge a complaint at the nearest police station. If the certificate is not traceable, the candidate should obtain a non-traceable certificate from the police.

Based on the non-traceable certificate, loss of certificate from the Tahsildar concerned should be obtained.

Sources from the Education Department also said that the government is planning to increase the fees for issuing duplicate certificates from next year.