The absence of the Block Development Officer (BDO) at Canacona for over two weeks has not only brought activities at the BDO to a grinding halt, but has left several residents fuming over pending works.
Canacona BDO Uday Prabhudessai proceeded on sick leave after he reportedly fractured his hand on January 10. Since then no replacement has been deputed to the office to tide over the matters in his absence.
A source in the office said that following Prabhudessai’s mishap a file was immediately moved to the government requesting a replacement. “The file continues to lie with the government and senior government officials are yet to act on the demand to post a replacement BDO for Canacona,” said the source.
According to sources, Prabhudessai, besides serving as BDO at Canacona, was also holding additional charge at the Sanguem and Quepem BDO offices.
When informed about public grievances over the non-availability of the BDO for a prolonged period, Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said he was aware of the situation.
“Following my instructions, a joint mamlatdar at Canacona was given additional charge as Canacona BDO some four days ago,” Tawadkar said.
“I also got calls from Sanguem and Quepem, where similar arrangements have been made. There is a shortage of BDOs as most have been promoted and one BDO has been given charge of 2 or 3 offices. The government has recently appointed nine new BDOs to overcome the shortage,” he added.
Sources at the Canacona BDO office on Wednesday confirmed that no replacement officer had visited the office till date.
“We have been given to understand that Joint Mamlatdar Dattaraj K G Dessai has been given additional charge of BDO since Tuesday, but he is yet to report to the office,” said the source.
Several schoolchildren with their parents regularly visit the BDO to obtain income certificates required for different schemes, but employees at the Canacona BDO have expressed their helplessness to issue the certificates in the absence of the BDO.
Residents claimed that though the office remains open, work has been hampered and nothing moves in the absence of a BDO. Residents from surrounding villages of Khola, Agonda, Gaondongrim, Cotigao, Poinguinim and Loliem are forced to return dejected after a futile visit to the BDO office.
Santosh Poi, who went to obtain an income certificate for his child, said, “I do not blame the staff, as they are helpless in the absence of the officer. But why can’t the government depute a replacement to an officer who is on sick leave?”
Sources in the BDO office admitted that various works involving the BDO have been affected due to the BDO’s absence.
