Santosh Naik
The Goa Legislative Assembly may be digital and paperless but the sub-registrar’s office in Ponda has numerous piles of documents stocked all over. The lack of space doesn’t help and this contributes to a poor working atmosphere. Due to the paucity of space, it is learnt that some cupboards are shifted to the Deputy Collector’s office premises.
Documents have been retained in the office for decades together. With the increase in the number of people, it has created an acute shortage of space within the structure as the office remains perpetually crowded in the morning time. Women face a lot of hardship if they have to enter the office to register their marriage or for sale deeds, etc. “Cupboards are lined along the passages. We have to find our way among a throng of people to enter the office. The experience is similar to being in a crowded bus,” said one woman. A lot of people have to wait out in the sun as they await their turn.
Despite the government purchasing 418 sq mtrs of land to shift the office two and a half years ago, there has been no movement yet. It is learnt that the fitting of electrical wires and installation of furniture is pending in the new premises which delays the shifting process.
The office maintains records dating back to the Portuguese era, from 1914 onward related to birth, death and property registration.
“Since there is no place left, we are forced to keep the piles of files on our work tables. This severely affects the working environment,” said some employees under the condition of anonymity. The cabin of the sub-registrar is also filled with cupboards and accumulated files as there is no place else to store them.
Ponda MLA, Lavoo Mamledar, when he was elected in 2012, noticed the overcrowding at the premises when people rush to register their marriage or property. Having referred the matter to the then Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, he was told that the government had identified an alternate space to shift the premises. Since then, in 2013-2014, he has been pursuing the matter with the government on account of the people. It has now been over two and a half years and the MLA asserts that since the government has taken up the space, there shouldn’t be a delay in shifting.
Apparently it isn’t just this office that faces space constraints. The RTO, Mamlatdar office, Deputy Collector’s office and Ponda Police Station are also affected.
The construction of the new RTO premises is progressing but Mamledar explains that the government should acquire space outside the city and construct the new premises just like it has done in Margao.
“The introduction of a digital system would help matters tremendously. Computers would ease the work load of people employed at the office and would help the common man get his work done much quicker. It would also help to save paper and would ease the storage problem. In Panjim, we get the sale deed and other documents within two days due to the office working on computers,” said Advocate Varad Mardolkar adding that if there is no space for employees, then it would be impossible for them to manage documents.
Hanumant Dessai, Sub-registrar was questioned about the difficulties in the office premises. He said, “The government has acquired 418 sq mtrs of land in Rajdeep Galaria, near old Cine Ayesha and is waiting for administrative approval of the State Registrar office.”
