VASCO: It may sound strange but the fact is that the Vasco post office is functioning without a full-time postmaster.
To add to the misery is that the office has only 3 postal assistants, 3 postmen and only 6 letter boxes for the port town.
Speaking to Herald, GOACAN co-ordinator Roland Martins said, “A visit to the post office revealed that it has only 6 letter boxes and of these 2 are outside the office itself. Imagine the people coming from the KTC Bus Stand or St Andrews Church locality they will have to travel all the way to the post office to post their letters.”
Martins said it may due to the poor supervision from the higher authorities of India Post, who were earlier posted in Mapusa and now functioning in Panjim.” he said.
He informed that on December 17, GOACAN visited the Vasco Post Office and observed a series of deficiencies and later a complaint was registered in the post office complaint book citing various issues.
Martins said the post office is a no smoking area and “Smoking Here Is An Offence” boards, which need to be installed under COTPA 2003 Act, have not been displayed here.”
He revealed that for the past 4 years the office has been operating without a full-time postmaster. The office is functioning with only 3 postal assistants when the requirement is 12.
Martins informed that although 14 regular postmen are needed, there are only 3 regular ones and 11 are working on daily wages.
On the letter boxes, he informed that as per the 1990 Postal Order all multi-storied buildings should install letter boxes on the ground floor to avoid hardship to postmen to climb the staircases. Notices have to be issued to all owners/managers of multi-storied buildings/housing societies seeking compliance of the Order. However, the required notices have not been issued.
He hoped that in the coming year 2020, the newly appointed Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (SSP), Goa Division in Panjim would visit Vasco post office and take necessary steps.
