GUILHERME ALMEIDA
South Goa District Collector Venancio Furtado’s concept of ‘Administration to the doorsteps’ may have earned kudos from many quarters. His office may dish out impressive statistics on the number of certificates, affidavits and documents, including ration cards issued at the darbars held across the villages in South district. But, the District Collector may suddenly realise that his very house, the collectorate, has come under the scanner of citizens.
Complaints have been pouring in almost every alternate day that while the District Collector tries to take the administration to the villages, people visiting the Collectorate return home disappointed for want of the two Additional Collectors, bringing the wheels of administration to a halt.
It has come to light that there’s been no officials manning the two posts of Additional Collectors in South Goa for quite some time now – crucial offices mostly dealing in matters relating to conversions, renewal of arms license, hearing of appeals, accounts, election work, sales deeds etc.
What has further added to the problem is the fact that when the District Collector shuttles between Margao and Panjim for official meetings and court matters, and there’s no ‘A’ grade officer in the Collectorate to attend and address grievances of the citizens.
Herald inquiries have revealed that the Post of Additional Collector-I has been lying vacant since the first week of September, 2014 since the time incumbent Additional Collector Arvind Bugde was transferred and posted as Director of Information. And, it has come to light that Additional Collector-II Damodar Morajkar had been on leave since December last, virtually throwing the administration haywire.
A citizen from Assolna, who had approached the office of Additional Collector-I on Thursday told Citizen Herald that his arms renewal is pending in the office for want of signature from the Additional Collector. “The process regarding my application for arms renewal is complete in all respect, but there’s no official to sign the document,” he said.
Curtorim Deputy Sarpanch J Santano Rodrigues said it’s shocking that the government is just dragging its feet to fill up the posts or make alternative arrangements. “Given that the Additional Collectors deal with matters relating to entire district, the government should make the necessary arrangements without any further delay,” Santano said.
When contacted, District Collector Venancio Furtado said his office has kept the state administration updated over the situation arising out of the vacant posts of Additional Collectors. “We are trying to tide over the situation. I am hopeful that the government will make the arrangements,” he said.
