New Delhi: The Delhi government has decided to offer 40 services, including applications for caste certificates, driving licences, ration cards and marriage registrations, at the doorstep of citizens in a people-friendly move that officials said was also aimed at reducing chances of extortion.

Sources said around 25 lakh people applied every year for these services that require at least four visits to a government office.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who announced the plan after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, said citizens would just need to dial a call centre number to get these services - even on holidays - once the scheme starts.

A "mobile sahayak", he added, would visit their home with a camera and other equipment needed to record biometric data for a pre-fixed fee and at a pre-scheduled date and time.

"All documentation work will be done at your house," an official explained. "For a driving licence, for example, you may only need to visit the regional transport office once - for the driving test. The less people visit offices, the lesser the chance of any extortion of bribe." The move, the source said, is expected to reduce corruption without using an enforcement body.

An agency would be hired for the scheme, to be rolled out in three to four months. Later, another 30 services would be added to the list, eliminating queues and touts.

"This is a huge step which we expect will cater to the working class that may not be at ease with registering for services online," an AAP source said. "A sahayak coming to their homes to do it for them is a huge help."

Earlier this week, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked the food and civil supplies department to work out a plan to deliver rations under the public distribution scheme at people's doorsteps.