Panaji, June 12 (IANS): From July 1, residents of Goa will be able to apply for essential certificates like resident certificate, income certificate, ration card without an affidavit.

The Goa government on Friday made public an order asking all government departments to allow the use of self-declaration forms instead of affidavits, for application of several essential services provided by municipalities and panchayats.

The order was passed by the department for public grievances following a report submitted by a government appointed committee on Simplification of Procedures for Effective Delivery of Public Services a few months back.

Apart from making the use of affidavits essential only in critical and sensitive cases where the formality, which involves a visit to a notary and a fee, is strictly required as mandated by law, the report has also identified and made efforts to streamline over 216 state government services, across most ministries.

"The government of Goa hereby directs that no government department/ organisations including municipalities and panchayat shall ask for affidavits from the applicants or their legal guardians, except in those cases where affidavits are strictly mandated under the law or court order," the order said, adding that the self-declaration should carry a photograph of the applicant.