Captured by : Salcete sub-registrar leaves people high and dry
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Two warring government departments -- Planning & Statistics and Registration “ were literally at war on Thursday, leaving Shastikars high and dry for want of any staff to issue birth and death certificates at the Salcete sub-registrar office.
As the bitter war shows no signs of abating and the government still not stepping in, fingers are indeed kept crossed by applicants, whether they will be lucky to lay their hands on the birth and death documents on Friday.
The crisis at the Salcete Sub-registrar was triggered after an order was issued by the State Planning and Statistics Director Vikas Gaunekar. In his order, Vikas ordered the withdrawal of all his staff, except one, deployed at the Margao sub-registrar’s office from Thursday. Complying with the order, six of the seven staffers engaged in handling birth and death certificates did not report for duties, creating a crisis of sorts. On the other hand, the Sub-Registrar office headed by Sub Registrar Chandrakant Pissulekar also did not issue any documents contending that the births and deaths section falls within the ambit of the Planning and Statistics department.
Even as members of the public from Salcete returned home disappointed after reading a notice, both the Planning and Statistics Director Vikas Gaunekar and Sub Registrar Chandrakant Pissulekar were virtually in a blame game, blaming each other for the unusual situation. In fact, the duo told The Goan that they have no role to play in the issuance of births and deaths, shifting the blame on each other.
When The Goan questioned Gaunekar to shed light on his order withdrawing the staff from the Sub Registrar office, he was blunt in staying that the births and deaths records belong to the Sub-registrar and his department is in no way responsible for issuing the documents. “I have withdrawn my staff deployed in the Salcete Sub Registrar office as per a Personnel department order. Moreover, the government has already notified the Salcete Sub Registrar Chandrakant Pissulekar as the Sub Registrar of the Births and Death Records under the Births and Deaths Act”, Gaunekar said, while justifying his decision to withdraw the staff.
He further pointed out that neither the Sub Registrar’s office belongs to his Planning and Statistics department nor do the records. “My department had given the staff to the sub-registrar purely as an ad-hoc arrangement, which has now been withdrawn as per the Personnel department’s order”, he added.
On the other hand, Salcete Sub Registrar Chandrakant Pissulekar contended that the Planning and statistics Director is responsible for today’s situation. “The births and deaths section is attached to the Planning and Statistics department and their staff was manning the office and issuing the certificates over the years. I do not know why Gaunekar suddenly withdrew his staff without making alternate arrangements”, he asserted.
Moreover, Pissulekar contended that his registration department itself is facing a staff crunch, pointing out that he is not in a position to spare his staff for the work of issuing births and death records. “I have immediately brought the matter to the notice of the State Registrar Borco to take up the matter with the government for a solution, apprehending untoward incident if the situation continues to persists.
When The Goan contacted Mr Borco, he said he has discussed in detail with the Law secretary and has also kept the office of the deputy chief Minister, Francis D’Souza posted on the development. However, so far, a solution has not been forthcoming from the government, and questions are raised whether people of Salcete will be able to lay their hands on the births and death documents for the second day on Friday.
Social activist and Dramapur-Sirlim Panch member Domnick Norohna has slammed the government authorities for playing with the sentiments of the people. “When we approached the office for a birth certificate, we came across a notice that the staff has been withdrawn. Is this government sensitive to the needs of the people. The concerned departments may have some issues, but they cannot put the people to hardships and inconveniences”, Domnick said.
