Birth certificates free for the poor

Birth certificates free for the poor

BENGKALIS, Riau: Bengkalis Regent Syamsurizal said on Saturday that the administration's policy of providing free birth certificates was only for the poor.

"Every application should be carefully examined to ensure the certificates are only given to the poor who are entitled to get it for free," Syamsurizal said as quoted by head of the information and media subdivision, Johansyah Syafri.

Since the birth certificates are provided for free, economically disadvantaged families are not required to pay anything, he said, adding that all the costs will be covered by the administration.

He also asked the people to take part in monitoring the implementation of the policy. "If officials ask for money, write down their names and report it to me," he said.

This year, the administration has issued 7,000 free birth certificates for disadvantaged families living in 13 districts. -- Antara