MARGAO: Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza visited the birth and deaths records section at the South Goa Collectorate on Monday. He has talked of shifting the section out of the Civil Registrars’ office for better handling of the works, and has also spoken to Director of Planning and Statistics Anand Sherkhane over the phone and asked him to depute more staff for the section.
The visit came after Herald’s consistent effort to get help for people, who have been troubled due to the problems at the section. D’Souza was on his way to Curchorem for the carnival celebrations when he stopped by to have a look at the section. He had a word with the staff and decided on solutions for the problems.
The birth and deaths section of the Planning and Statistics Department has been in dire need of extra hands and digitization of records for over a year. The problems were amplified recently after the experienced staff members were transferred, putting the already troubled section in more jeopardy.
Every day, the birth and death certificate counter has a long line of people, who have to wait for around three to four hours to get a simple certificate. The registrar receives almost 200 applications every day and the issuance of the certificates is sometimes delayed by as long as a month.
“I had come from Chandor to get the death certificate of my father. This is my third visit to this office in the last week. I keep my small daughter with my neighbour and come to this office. I am really troubled,” said Natalina Rodrigues.
People from as far as Old Goa and Canacona have been coming to the office and leaving without getting their works done.
