Kavita started her educational journey by taking admission to the B.A. (Honours) and then opting for M.A. (Economics). Later on, she gave IAS exams and cleared it. This accomplishment gave her an entry to the esteemed class of 5000 IAS officers in India.

WHAT IS AN IAS OFFICER?

India has around 5000 IAS officers approximately. Kavita Singh is one of those 5000 IAS Officers. The exam required to clear the IAS Exam is called UPSC. UPSC is considered one of the toughest exams in the country and to clear that exam is no small feat on its own. There are lakhs of students who sit for this exam. I would also like to highlight the fact that, students start preparing for this exam even before high school sometimes. Becoming an IAS officer is a great achievement in this country. It is a matter of great pride for the family to have an IAS officer come out of their family. But for a woman to achieve this feat is no ordinary task.

The destination “IAS” itself adds so much respect and glory to the person’s name. Indian Administrative services are one of the 3 arms of the All India Services, along with Indian Police Services (IPS) and Indian Forest Services(IFS). An IAS is a part of the permanent bureaucracy of the nation and is an inseparable part of the executive of the Government of India. It always remains neutral and guarantees administrative continuity to the ruling party.

CURRENT POSITION and INITIATIVE

Source : LBSNAA Website

Kavita Singh overcame all such hurdles in life and took the position of an IAS. Currently, she has been placed at the disposal of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She has also been appointed as the Chief Administrator of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), SAS Nagar & in addition to Direction Town & County planning relieving Shri Ajoy Sharma IAS.

Earlier Kavita Singh served as the Director of Social Security and Development of Woman and Children. This esteemed lady along with Raju P. Srivastava started a program to provide blankets, clothes, and books to the needy children. Over 500 children have been helped and giving better opportunities to learn and live so far under this scheme.

IAS Kavita Singh is not only a powerful woman but is also a lady with a kind heart. She is always mindful and taking care of the destitute. Even during she is always prompt and alert in her decisions. During winters, she makes sure to keep the animals warms by providing shelter and many other needed things to their caretakers. She always had a soft spot for animals and hence leaves no chance to help them. She arranges special shelters and veterinarian facilities for stray animals.

HELPING NATURE

Poor Children are always under her shadow too. She is famous for providing comfort among poor children. Her whole project started as an experiment, in order to encourage people to help the needy. But slowly but surely this movement has taken an altruistic form, helping hundreds of kids and adults in Children & Observation Homes. All these homes are also run by her department too. She is a woman hero and savior for many.

It all started just before Diwali that they decided to personalize this initiative, and asked their employees to contribute material things which they themselves haven’t used or have little use for. Message and notification spread like wildfire prompting many to donate multitudes of old and new stuff. A chain reaction was started and a continuum was formed. Employees spread the message further to colleagues and friends in the service area. The initiative also got the social attention and many Whatsapp groups were formed in order to fulfill the purpose.

A huge response followed their actions. Books, Stationary, clothes, health equipment, etc were donated by many contributors making this program a huge success.

Though the government has provided budgetary allocation for the basic facilities to the children in these homes, it is never enough. There are hundreds of children residing in such homes. Belonging from poverty-stricken families they have never seen comfort and stability. To provide a better future, stable living conditions, and a healthy environment becomes the government’s responsibility to care for such souls. Then angel souls like Kavita Singh come to their rescue and give them hope.

HER HEROIC PERSONALITY

The heroic saga of Kavita Singh doesn’t end here. She also announced that the department is currently thinking of ways to secure the future of the children who have left or will these homes after coming of age (18 years plus). They said that she hopes that children will be able to take up higher education and manage their own lives but being a productive individual of society.

Planning for making a personal insurance plan for such children is also underway, so they can use it whenever they need it in life.

Kavita Singh gives a message to the society that if a woman makes her mind to do something, then nothing can stop her. She can be the wave of change she wishes to see. We all should take an example from her brilliant story, in order to motivate and inspire ourselves. The way she has become a mother figure for many children across the state and her selfless effort to improve their lives has earned her respect only a few can in their lifetime.

Today a woman is powerful and has the capability to change the toxic mindset of people about a woman. IAS Kavita Singh is not only being dedicated to her duty but has also been putting sincere efforts to provide a satisfactory life for poor children.

Also learn about eProcurement Punjab – How does it Work?

What is a Caste Certificate?

The Indian Constitution prescribes the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the article 341 and 342 respectively. These statutory lists were inscribed for the very first time in the constitution under the Constitution Order of 1950 for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The caste certificate is an authentic stamp that recognizes these special classes of the society. In addition, it gives them the opportunity to avail the privileges that the Indian government provides them.   

With the passing years, the governments have modified, updated, and supplemented these lists according to the demand of the citizens. A caste certificate is a document that the government gives to an individual who belongs to a particular caste or tribe. Therefore, every Indian state follows the prescribed rules for providing this certificate to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in their state. 

The sections in this article will be talking about the procedure to apply for a caste certificate in Mohali, Punjab. As a result, you can find details about the documents required to complete the process, the time taken to process the application, and the fees of application.      

Why do we need a Caste Certificate? 

The Indian system of Protective Discrimination presents a specific range of benefits for the citizens belonging to these special categories. Without the possession of a caste certificate, you have no benefits. In addition, you will not be allowed to make use of the privileges that the government provides to your caste or tribe. On showing the caste certificate as an identity proof, you can enrol in colleges and schools, apply for government jobs, and get special financial and economic benefits. 

If you belong to one of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, you can avail government benefits as mentioned in the list below.  

• A certain number of reserved seats in the Governmental job posts and Legislature.
• Reserved seats in Government and private colleges.
• The opportunity to appear for certain government exams with special upper age limits.
• Special cut-off marks for multiple national-level examinations. 
• Scholarships in different streams of education. 
• Benefits in Pension schemes provided by the state or central government. 
• Reservations in Indian Railways for travel tickets. 

You can also get special discounts on college and school fees according to the regulations laid by the Indian government. In order to avail these benefits, it is rudimentary to apply for a Caste Certificate in your state of residence. 

The state government of Punjab and the Legislative Assembly have created the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporations. The aim of these institutions is to enhance the quality of life of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the state. Therefore, they design different schemes and policies for these special classes and implement them across the state. Their team ensures that the financial aids are distributed to the deserving citizens across the state.  

Eligibility Conditions  

The government only provides the caste certificates to the Indian citizens who satisfy the cases mentioned in the list below. 

• The applicant is an Indian citizen. 
• A person applying for the caste certificate should be the permanent resident of Punjab state i.e. the person must have the proof of his residence in the state for the last 5 years. 

Procedure for obtaining a Caste Certificate

• Offline 

For offline application, follow the steps as mentioned in the list below. 

• Visit your nearest Revenue, Tehsil, Circle, or the concerning office of the department of welfare for Backward Classes in your area. 
• If you personally cannot visit the office, write an application on a plain A4 size paper and sign it (or put your thumb impression). When you (or someone on your behalf) visits the respective office, ask for the Caste Certificate application form. 
• Write the details as mentioned on the application. Once the form is complete, attach the required documents and submit it to the concerning officer in the office. 
• The authorities will verify your application with the submitted documents and send your Duly Stamped Caste Certificate to your mentioned address with the time frame.   
• Online 
  • Visit the online portal of the Government of Punjab to apply for your Certificate. 
  • If you’re visiting for the first time, click on ‘New User’ to make your account. 
  • Enter the details and click on the ‘Fresh Application’ on the webpage. 
  • Click on ‘Apply’ button that you see right next to the Service option. (For already registered users) 
  • (For new application) Select Alternative 2 which is the Online Application Form link. Fill the form and click on Submit. 
  • Once the application is complete, click on ‘View Saved Application’ and upload the required and supporting documents.     

The application fees for obtaining a Caste Certificate from your nearest Suwidha Centre is Rs. 30. Apart from this, the government charges Rs. 10 as Court Fee Stamp to validate your document. 

Office Locations 100

Documents Required 

Along with the application for Caste Certificate, an individual must furnish the documents mentioned in the list below. 

• Application form for the Caste Certificate 
• Ration Card 
• Any proof of residence (Electricity bill, Rent agreement, etc.)
• A copy of the Verification Leaf that is issued by your local Municipal Councillor, Sarpanch, or Subedaar)  
• Birth Certificate, school or college leaving certificate (Age proof Documents)
• A Self Declaration Form 
• A scanned copy of your passport size photograph
• Caste Certificate of the applicant’s parents or grandparents (if available)
• A copy of School Leaving Certificate or Transfer Certificate 

The validity of the Caste Certificate

The Caste Certificate is valid for an entire lifetime fo the individual. In case if it is not, the period of validity will be mentioned on the certificate. If it isn’t mentioned on yours, your caste certificate will be valid for your lifetime. 

How long does it take to receive the Caste Certificate

Once you have successfully applied for the Caste Certificate online, the government delivers the caste certificate to your address within 7 working days. In case of offline applications, the processing is usually done within 1 working day. If it doesn’t happen during that time frame, the authorities will inform you about the time frame. 

Next Read : eProcurement Punjab – How does it Work?

The leading organizations and governments in the world are opting for electronic methods. Just to ease the process of exchanging goods and services. If you are a vendor for an organization, it would be better for you to register yourself online. After that, you can send the required documents online instead of personally visiting the office. In Punjab, the government registers and displays the list of tenders and the additional details through eProcurement Punjab. The digitalization of the process allows the vendors to register themselves on the organization’s portal. After that, they can send the required documents, view the latest announcements by the organization, and cancel their tender.

However, working with the portal can be difficult for the first time users. The following section of this article helps you learn better about eProcurement Punjab. You’ll also learn in detail about the process and components of the portal. This will ultimately smoothen the process of registration or browsing the portal for you.     

What is eProcurement Punjab? 

Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement) is a digital portal under the operation of the Government of Punjab. Through this portal, the details of the registered vendors along with their detailed information is publically available. Transparency is the key to successful democratic governance. Therefore, the registration of the tenders is only done through the online process.  

How was it started? 

The manual process of Procurement was in function for a very long time. There were multiple cases in the past where the details of the tenders were misplaced. Also, they were incorrectly recorded, or not available for public display. Thus, the introduction of this digital eProcurement Punjab portal was a game-changer. 

The management of the supply chain is a mandatory task. This is because the supply chain consists of the details about the services and the products exchanged by the government. Just like any other business, the government hires multiple companies and individuals for different jobs. Thus, the Procurement system enters and displays the payment done for the consignment, date of registering, expected date of completion, and status of the project. This increases the efficiency of the process due to entry of the important information. With the digitalization of the process, suspicious activities find no room. The ease of accessibility of the eProcurement Punjab website allows the boards, agencies, and other establishments like the corporations to get the complete details of their tenders.         

What are the components of eProcurement in Punjab?

The eProcurement portal consists of titbits that are responsible for the functionality of the website. For a first time user, understanding the components and their location on the portal would be a relatively difficult task. Consequently, the list of components of the eProcurement Punjab portal creates a room of understanding for the first time users.

Bid Submission 

The portal has a dedicated section for the registration of the first time bidders. In addition to that, the login section is for the existing vendors. For detailed information on the process of online bidding, click on the ‘Bidders Manual Kit’. This button is on the bottom right section of the eProcurement Punjab portal’s homepage. Once the bidder is confident about the process, he should register himself on the portal. During the registration process, it is mandatory to submit the bid for the proposal. Along with that, the vendor must submit the details of his technical and commercial expertise.       

Bid Evaluation

The system automatically evaluates the bid, after the vendor places it. After this, the government studies the vendors and their proposals. Once the system shortlists the vendors, it invites them to the electronic auction (e-Auction). 

Electronic Auction 

The government organizes the Electronic Auction (e-Auction) process for the shortlisted members. These are the members who are trying to obtain certain services or goods from the government. Depending on the type of service or the product, the portal has the capacity to conduct various digitalized auctions. 

Indent Management 

The indent management process is the foundation of the process of online tendering. With the help of this, the portal creates a specific requisition. This requisition is then open for the vendors to register and bid. 

Creation of an all-inclusive Request For 

There are various subsections that deal with the Request for different services and products. These requests are made by the vendors who need to demand or ask from the government. People abbreviate this as RFX (Request for Something). In this process, the government formulates the Request for Bid, Quotes, Proposals, and Information. Along with this, the portal designs the technical and commercial requirements for the particular tender.  

Selection of the Vendor 

Once the e-Auction process is over, the government decides on the appropriate bids. Based on the requirements, they select one or more than one vendor for a particular product or service. Once the online portal submits the Purchase Order to the selected vendors, the process of eProcurement ends.  

Announcements

The government updates the latest announcements about the changes in the process or the new tenders in this section. It displays the helpline for GePNIC users. Along with this, it provides important information about the online payment dates, along with the other critical notifications.   

Corrigendum 

According to the Right to Information Act, the Corrigendum displays the documents of the latest tenders that the government issues. The Corrigendum mentions the date of the Tender Opening, Bid Closing, e-Publishing, and the Tender ID. Along with that, it mentions the name of the government organization, board, or directorate that issued the tender. 

Tender Status 

The eProcurement Punjab portal has three different criteria for searching the details of the tender. You can search for the tender based on its ID, type, or the organization details.     

What are the benefits of eProcurement Punjab? 

• The major benefit of eProcurement is the automation of the manual process. In this way, the speed of the procurement process increases significantly. 
• Complete transparency.
• The increase in market scope for prospective buyers and suppliers. 
• Usually, in the manual procurement process, the handling of authorities compromises the data. However, the eProcurement process avoids this mishap from happening.
• It is a cost-effective measure for executing the Procurement process.     

Also read about DC Office Mohali – Latest Address & Timings.