The Department of Social Welfare and SimpleGov organised a webinar on how to apply for services that are available on the e-Sevai portal.The webinar focused on three services â registration of old age homes, registration and licence for homes for women; and licence for working womenâs hostels.Many NGOs, especially those in the hostel industry, took part in the webinar.Last month, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched SimpleGov, which has simplified the process of availing various services and schemes offered by the government.P.W.C. Davidar, Advisor (Digital and Simplified Governance) to Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TneGA), explained how easy it was to obtain licences now. âFor those who donât have access to the internet, they can visit the nearest e-Sevai centre. We have done away with the practice of asking for unnecessary documents. One can now download the licences online,â he said.âAll necessary documents can be uploaded by the applicants themselves. Once the payment is done, they can check the status and download the certificates,â Mr. Davidar said.The validity of some of the licences have been extended. For instance, the licence for Homes for Women is now valid for 10 years. In the case of old age homes, if there are fewer than 20 people operating under a cooperative model and supporting each other, registration is not required. However, if they operate as a trust, registration is mandatory.Obtaining sanitation and fire certificates has also been simplified. In the case of a public building licence, any empanelled engineer can provide a structural soundness certificate. For hostels obtaining new licences, renewal and closure can be done online. In case the application has been returned, its status can be checked online. All information related to these services is available on https://www.tnesevai.tn.gov.in/ where registration can also be done.Homes for women are run by NGOs to provide shelter, food, clothing, counselling, training, medical support and legal aid to women in difficult circumstances. The registration of such homes is mandatory to ensure proper regulation, monitoring, and adherence to standards for the safety and well-being of the residents. Registration of old age homes is mandatory to ensure proper regulation, monitoring, and compliance with standards for the welfare of elderly residents. It prevents exploitation, ensures quality care, and allows homes to avail government benefits or subsidies. Registration also promotes accountability and transparency.Published - June 06, 2025 09:50 pm IST