Team Herald
MARGAO: In a ‘special delivery’ of controversy, the Goa postal division seems to have turned into an outpost for Maharashtra’s workforce – a discussion in the Lok Sabha revealed that 71 postmen from Maharashtra have been recruited by the Goa circle over the last five years..
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To add insult to injury, several Goans employed in the stop-gap roles were unceremoniously replaced by Maharashtra-based candidates, raising questions about the postal department’s priorities. Despite the requirement for Konkani knowledge, the recruitment pattern highlights Goa’s continuing to secure autonomy in its postal operations, which still function under Maharashtra’s administrative circle.
The reply was tabled during the ongoing parliamentary session following a specific query raised by South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, bringing to light the detailed recruitment pattern in the region’s postal division.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Communications and Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar provided a breakdown of the hiring, revealing that the recruitment comprised five postmen in 2020, 19 in 2021, 18 in 2022, 19 in 2023, and 10 in 2024 from Maharashtra for the Goa postal division.
The reply further stated that a stop-gap arrangement is affected locally only against temporary vacant posts. Therefore, after a post is filled up, the stop-gap arrangement is discontinued.
Furthermore, the minister clarified that recruitment for all cadres follows established rules. Specifically for the Goa postal division, candidates must possess knowledge of both Marathi and Konkani to be appointed as postmen.
It is to be noted that the Goa postal division currently operates under the Maharashtra circle, despite ongoing demands for creating a separate postal division for the state.
