Ensure timely delivery of passports: Sushma

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today stressed the need for ensuring timely, effective and accountable service delivery of passports and focusing on the "last man in the queue".
Inaugurating a three-day Passport Officers' Conference here, Swaraj impressed upon all stakeholders to brain-storm for further simplification of processes and procedures and to do away with the redundant ones.
The Minister expressed satisfaction at the efforts of Central Passport Organisation (CPO) in reforming the system but felt there was much more scope for improvement.
The reformative measures must focus on the concerns and welfare of the common man - the last man in the queue, a statement by the Ministry said.

"Moreover, the utmost need, in this age of information, is to keep the passport applicants informed of the status of their applications so as not to cause anxiety to them. Speed and efficiency should be the motto of Passport Seva," she said.
The Minister expressed government's resolve to introduce citizen-friendly administrative reforms and policies aimed at restoring faith of the people in the system and bringing visible change in their lives.

The Minister asked the passport-issuing authorities to serve the public with courtesy and empathy and not to take passport issuance merely as routine official duty as the word 'Seva' itself connotes selfless service with humility.

The Minister impressed on the need for good governance by ensuring timely, effective and accountable service delivery, the statement said.
Thirty seven Passport Officers are participating in the Conference.