Shantaram vows independent postal, telecom circle for Goa

MARGAO, JUNE 26
Asserting that no one has the right to merge Goa into any postal or telecom circle, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has vowed to continue the battle along with his South Goa counterpart, Francisco Sardinha till Goa is made an independent postal and telecom circle.
Naik further said that the Call Centre of the Communications department will be shifted back to Goa from Pune and announced that tenders for the transfer will be floated soon.
He was speaking after launching BSNL’s 3G services in South Goa in the presence of South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, BSNL Chief General manager Aloke Kaul, general manager, Goa Telecom district G R Ravi and other dignitaries.
“Goa is an independent state formed as per the Constitutional mandate. But, we have become a district of Maharashtra vis-à-vis the postal and telecom circle”, Naik said and lamented that the state continues to be a district of Maharashtra in the telecom and postal circle.
Saying that no one has the right to merge Goa into another state, Naik said he along with South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha continue to raise the issue in Parliament till Goa becomes an independent circle.
He said the Call centre of the Communciation department which was closed down in Goa few years back will re-start soon in the state as the tendering process is presently underway.
The Rajya Sabha MP said that for effective use of landline or mobile services, the call centre need to be manned by local personnel, adding that the successful bidder should keep this in mind while making the recruitment.
On BSNL’s 3G mobile service, Naik said soon subscribers will be able to see Tirupati Temple religious ceremonies live on the mobile, adding that the day is not far away when people may see religious ceremonies in Vailankani Church live in Goa.
In a lighter vein, Naik said a wife can now easily ensure the location of her husband by insisting on the husband to show the place where he claims he is by moving by his mobile to show her the location.
In his address, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said that BSNL has to pay attention to the disruption in the signals of their mobile services in some parts of the state. Sardinha said he and Naik will continue to make Goa as an independent Telecom circle.
BSNL Chief general manager, Aloke Kaul, general manager, Goa telecom district G R Ravi and others also spoke.