For Cortalim-Quelossim Sarpanch Hilario Figueiredo, running to the office of Mormugao Block Development Officer (BDO) at least thrice in a week has become a routine affair. The purpose of his visits is only to seek administrative approval to appoint garbage contractor in order to resolve the pending issue of garbage and every time he visits to the BDO office only to hear that the file is under process and this has been going on since last one year.
The reasons for the delay are many but the prime reason behind would be shortage of staff at the BDO office services are rendered at snail pace leaving people to face hardships.
“It is sad that services at the BDO office very slow and thus one file is pending since last one year but since the time the new BDO Prajakta D Goltekar took over charge things started moving ahead and hopefully my file would be cleared soon now but I still wonder that if a Sarpanch has to go through such hardships then what would be the faith of common citizens visiting to this office” Figueiredo said.
Goltekar, fortunately has turned out to be diamond in the pit of mess, but she has a herculean task, to say the least Surely those who have even had any experience of visiting the office of Mormugao Block Development Officer (BDO), would agree to the fact that this office which deals with populist schemes of the government, has literary become a nightmare.
The list of problems faced by the staff as well as by citizens visiting this office is never ending and thus this office can be ranked as top of the list of most the citizen unfriendly government office in Mormugao.
To understand the functioning at the BDO office, recently Herald spent time in the office. The Herald reporter began by asking for the file on garbage sent by the office of Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat. However the staff present were unable to locate any single file asked for by the Herald reporter who was asked to come again. This proves that all is not well in the BDO office which handles nine Panchayats and cover around one lakh population under its jurisdiction.
The office is located on the first floor of a commercial/residential building which makes senior citizens and disabled persons to compulsorily face hardships. There is also no place for visitors to sit.
“How would a disabled person climb the stairs, where would people sit till their work is done by the staff, it is sad that people are forced to sit outside on the staircase or have to stand till the work gets completed” said Preetam keluskar, a resident of Chicalim.
From 54 square meters flat, the Mormugao BDO office was shifted to double room hall premises having area of 79 square meters three years ago. The whole idea behind shifting this office was to provide a decongested office atmosphere to the visitors as well as staff. However Congestion today has reached a level where allthe every corner has been occupied for dumping the files. Even the toilet area has been put to use for dumping of scrap tyres and other material of the office.
“It is true that people have been facing problems but more than people we suffer the most as the office has no proper file storage facility Tables and cupboards have occupied all the space and area above cupboards and ceiling loft is used to keep important files.
Similarly the office has no proper ventilation and becomes dark during a power cut.” said an office staff under condition of anonymity. The crisis of shortage of man power is another trouble affecting the functioning at this office. This can be can be proved with the fact that the office peon (Surendra Govekar) has been performing the duties of clerk(works on computer) as all three post of lower division clerk post is vacant. Senior staff in the office claim that they cannot operate compuers.
The current BDO is the only ray of hope
Herald: Since the time you have taken charge, what issues you have faced in this office?
Prajakta D Goltekar: The biggest issue faced by us is the shortage of staff due to which works gets delayed. We have already communicated to our higher-ups about this issue and we expect that the same would be resolved.
Herald: How serious is the issue of congestion in your office and have you tried to resolve the issue?
PG: Congestion is also a serious issue and I have been told that my processors have taken up the issue with the concerned. Presently we are facing issues due to lack of space to store files and correspondence. Also one cannot move freely due to the cramped space. I will follow this up on priority.
Herald: Your office is located on the first floor, due to which senior citizens and disabled are facing difficulties to climb stairs to reach?
PG: Most government offices on the first floor and above have a lift facility in place but we don’t. It would be better if our office is shifted to ground floor but this has to be done at the higher levels. But we on it and are confident that these will be resolved soon.
