THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The three new Visitors’ Facilitation Centres which started functioning the other day at the Secretariat have turned out to be helpful to the visitors as they provide information regarding the concerned sections.
The centres collect details of the visitors, after having them photographed, and issue slips to be shown at the entrance between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
``This system is helpful to ensure security and to help the visitors to meet their purpose,’’ Sabu Kumar, section officer at a centre, said. These centres work from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The help desks at Cantonment Gate, South Block and Secretariat Annexe have one section officer, six assistants and two attenders each. The officials here are willing even to fill the registration forms of the visitors if they have any difficulty. The petitions can be submitted at the facilitation centre and the status of the files can be known by contacting the centre over phone.
Metal detectors have been placed at the entrance of the centres. The baggage the visitors carry will be stamped before they enter the Secretariat. For those who come from far-off places, the time stipulation for the visitors has created some difficulties. Some of the visitors complained that they cannot find the concerned people in the section in the limited time.
But it has been pointed out that many of the Secretariat staff are not serious about remaining in their seat during the office hours.
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