MARGAO: The South Goa administration seems to have collapsed with most offices in the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex witnessing minimal attendance and due to the prevailing situation most people have stopped visiting the complex while a few others are forced to return disappointed.
With the attendance being minimal, the few staff members who report for duty claim to be overburdened while dealing with the public and have alleged harassment by the people despite telling them that their work cannot be processed as the concerned official is on election duty.
The staff members also complain that the agitated public questions them as to why the state of Goa is still under the Model Code of Conduct when the elections are already held in the State. The staff members further claimed that most people abuse them over the absence of their colleagues.
Some offices in the complex such as those coming under the Directorate of Panchayats, are perpetually locked since the elections which were held on February 4, with the concerned officer not coming to the office as he or she is reported to be on election duty.
In the Town and Country Planning office housed in the Osia Commercial Arcade and in the Excise Department, the staff strength is minimal as they are reportedly carrying out the survey of liquor outlets coming within 500 metres of the State and National Highways.
It would be pertinent to note that the Health Services has shut down its office in Margao where health insurance cards were issued to the people on grounds of the Model Code of Conduct being in force. While the health cards are valid till end of current financial year, there are many who have filled their forms and are waiting to avail the same.
The situation is not very different in the Margao Municipal Council where the staff is also found minimal causing great hardships to people especially those waiting for their licences and their renewal. In some cases, the work cannot be processed as the concerned official who knows the computer password is absent.
Sources reveal that though it was announced that the code of conduct would be relaxed for Goa after polls, the State government is yet to make any representation to the Election Commission of India. The code will be in force till the election process is completed in all aspects, which would be 2 or 3 days after the results are declared.
