TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In a major relief to those moving abroad for employment and higher studies, Goa government has now given powers to the additional collectors to attest their documents sparing them from going through rigmarole of getting sanction of various offices. The new system will be in force from December 1, 2013 onwards.
In an order issued by Home Ministry, earlier this week, additional collectors-North and South have been given powers to attest the documents like educational, birth, marriage and experience certificate for procuring visa for employment and higher studies.
Currently, the Under Secretary, Home is the designated authority for attestation of document for the entire State. As such, people across Goa have to land in to Porvorim Secretariat to get their documents attested. State does not have any record on the number of people migrating to foreign countries for jobs or studies.
Under Secretary (Home) Harish Adconkar in the order issued has said that as per the current system, it takes two to three days to process the attestation of documents. “The applicants are made to attend home department twice for the attestation of the documents which is highly inconvenient and time consuming to the public at large,” the order reads.
“To mitigate the inconvenience and to provide speedy service to the applicants, the government has approved to decentralize the process of attestation of documents,” it further adds.
The new system now empowers both the additional district collectors as “link officers” who shall attest the documents so as not to inconvenience the public. “The district collectors may also exercise the powers of attestation,” the order has said.
