Many government offices in Goa function as if they exist to harass, not help, citizens. A divergence certificate application for my late mother was rejected due to an “incorrect” self-declaration”despite using the format from the official GoaOnline portal. An RTI revealed a different format in use, not available online, with nearly identical content. These affidavits are sold for Rs 10 at kiosks allegedly run by relatives of government employees, though they cost far less to copy. At the RTO, forms are also sold at inflated rates. Addresses corrected years ago on our Voter IDs were arbitrarily altered again. Panchayats change house numbers without notice, forcing citizens to fix documents at their own cost. Some talathis lack basic understanding”mine rejected my application because my mother’s birth certificate didn’t carry my father’s surname! Yet, not all is bleak. Officers like Allen, Avit Naik, and Vinayak Chari deserve praise for their honesty and efficiency. It’s time we promote government employees based on merit, not seniority, politics, or quotas ” and punish the corrupt who misuse their positions at the cost of the common man.
