PERNEM
The postal department has restored the earlier pin code for three villages in Pernem, following opposition from locals and demands from political leaders.
According to locals, Agarwada-Chopdem, Parsem and Morjim villages have traditionally come under the Pernem post office and had been using the pin code 403512 for a number of decades.
They claimed that the pin code had been suddenly changed for the three villages. While Parsem and Agarwada villages had been brought under the Siolim post office (403517), Morjim village had been brought under the Mandrem post office (403527).
Locals complained that this change in postal code would compel them to make changes in their addresses and in their documents like Aadhaar card, voter identity card, PAN card, various certificates, and other documents. They claimed that this change would affect about 15,000 people in the three villages.
Upset over this sudden change in postal code, sarpanchas, panchas and residents of Agarwada-Chopdem, Parsem and Morjim villages had convened meetings to denounce the decision and had also petitioned the Post Master General, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar in this connection. They had also warned of a public agitation.
A delegation of citizens of the three villages then met Union Minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik to convey their grievances. Naik then intervened in the matter and got in touch with senior officials of the postal department, asking them to revert to the earlier post code.
In a notice dated February 27, the postal department reverted the three villages to the Pernem post office (403512) with effect from March 6, “due to administrative reasons and references from the villagers and representatives of the Parsem, Agarwada and Morjim villages.”
The sarpanchas, panchas and residents of the three villages have thanked Union Minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik and the postal department for reverting their villages to the previous postal code 403512.
