SANGUEM: Residents of Sanguem, who have invested in postal savings either through their savings account or recurring deposit or fixed deposit, are facing a herculean task for the last few months to get their work done at the post office regarding these accounts due to the fact that the post office is functioning with skeletal staff.
Serpentine queues of young and the old are a regular sight at the post office with many forced to return home without their work being done.
The Sanguem Postmaster is reportedly on sick leave for the last 15 days and yet the authorities have not sent a replacement thus leaving it to the lone clerk to deal with all matters.
Besides, two other positions at this post office have been vacant for the last many months and the department has not even advertised for these posts, leave alone filling them up.
Given the circumstances it is quite natural that many times, the overburdened clerk is seen losing his patience and shouting at the customers.
Suresh Naik, a local, pointed out that he had to return home without his work being done for three consecutive days as the serpentine queue did not end even during the lunch break.
“Due to paucity of staff, it is we, who invested in postal savings, who are suffering as our accounts are not being renewed in time, thus making us lose on the interest,” he said, pointing out that worst-affected are those who have a recurring deposit as the money has to be deposited on the specified date.
In fact the situation is so bad that the lone clerk can be heard urging the crowds waiting in line to complain to the head office in Panjim for deployment of the additional staff.