MARGAO: Nearly three weeks after the launch of Citizens Felicitation Center (CFC) at the South Goa Collectorate, citizens are not happy with the services provided by GEL. Although people are impressed with how things are organised, citizens complain that they spend more time waiting for their turn than they did earlier.
Herald investigated the workings of the CFC and identified several shortcomings with the services. After filling the form, the citizen has to collect a token based on the type of service or certificate required.
The time printed on the token is half hour more than the actual time. The LED board displays the token number and the counter number to which the applicant has to go to. However, there is no way to know how long you have to wait for your turn. One resident of Borda was waiting for more than half an hour to submit her form for a Caste Certificate. “I don’t know how much longer I will have to wait,” she said.
Earlier, citizens had to go to the related departments to submit their applications. Thus the applicants were spread across the Collectorate building.
Now, all the applicants have come to one room which has one counter for forms, 6 counters for submission of applications and 20 seats, all of which increases the time an applicant has to wait for his turn.
The token system, as opposed to a standing queue, causes more delay since time is wasted when one applicant leaves the counter and the other gets up from their seat and walks to the counter. Citizens fear that after the other 6 counters open, the centre will get extremely crowded.
People complained that they were not shown the Form I & XIV before taking a print of the copy. Earlier, applicants were shown the Form on the screen where they could verify the details in case they had written a wrong survey number in their application.
Another complaint people have was that earlier, they could submit their application for residence certificate directly to the talathi after getting an inward stamp on it. That way, people who needed the certificate urgently could get their certificates in one or two days. With the new system, all applications reach the talathi at the end of the day and citizens have no way to expedite the process if they need the certificate urgently.
FEES INCREASED, BUT NO GOOD SERVICE
Survey plans that cost Rs 60 earlier now cost Rs 200 whereas the price for Form 1 & 14 has been increased from Rs 10 to Rs 40. In addition, the citizens have to pay an additional amount of 18% as GST.
Even though people have to pay more for all the Revenue documents, there has been no improvement in service.
Sources informed Herald that Goa Electronic Limited, who is operating the CFC, is getting 40% of the fees. The entry staff hired by GEL is reportedly paid far below the salary of a Government entry clerk.
The Director of GEL did not want to comment on the revenue sharing agreement between GEL and the revenue department. Experts criticised the deal stating that the CFC contract should have been given after inviting competitive bids.
