PANAJI
The election code of conduct, while serving as a regulatory mechanism for government decisions, has inadvertently made some departments and subsidiary offices lethargic.
For example, the goaonline.gov.in website, an online platform to avail various public services, isn’t functioning well.
Its performance has been either allegedly compromised or delayed in processing numerous applications, leaving many applicants stranded. Senior citizens, in particular, have purportedly faced harassment due to these setbacks. The delay has therefore hindered them from progressing with applications for various social welfare schemes, which mandate government documents.
The repercussions of this inefficiency are evident in specific cases witnessed by The Goan, where one of the senior citizens has encountered hurdles in obtaining her income certificate.
“My mother went to the nearest office to apply for an income certificate, but the officials directed her to apply online. She then asked for my help, and since I’m in Pune, I did everything I could to ensure the online process went smoothly. We uploaded all the necessary documents for the income certificate, despite which, my mother still hasn’t received it,” shared Radha Kosambi, the applicant’s daughter.
She revealed further that authorities aren’t accepting offline forms, because of which, she hasn’t received her monthly social security fund, which requires the income certificate.
Another instance is that of a working woman, who’s patiently waiting for her residential certificate. “I urgently need the residential certificate to apply for a welfare scheme under the Department of Women & Child Development. Despite applying over a week ago, the website continues to display my application as “under process,” contrary to the usual turnaround time of five days,” the applicant said, expressing frustration over the delay.
Activist Cecille Rodrigues had just last week pointed out the failed system while she waited for land-related documents. “Last three days, the server has been down, creating a lot of inconvenience. People from Margao, Panaji and senior citizens have been making trips back and forth,” she alleged, citing inconvenience by people.
The Goan tried reaching out to Goa Electronics Limited, which manages the site, but officials remained unavailable for comment.
