Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has strongly criticised the BJP government’s decision to shift the Office of Public Records from Altinho, Panaji to Kadamba Plateau, Ribandar, calling the move anti-people and inconvenient for the public.
Addressing the issue on Thursday, GPCC Media and Communication Department chairman Amarnath Panjikar said the Office of Public Records is an essential public service institution frequently visited by citizens for obtaining birth and death certificates, travel records and other important archival documents required for education, employment, passports, legal procedures and family matters.
Panjikar alleged that relocating the office from a centrally accessible location to Ribandar would create difficulties for the public, especially senior citizens, students, daily wage earners and residents from South Goa.
He further stated that despite the government’s claims of promoting “ease of living” and good governance, such decisions were making public services more difficult and expensive for ordinary citizens.
“The government is forcing people to travel longer distances, spend more money and waste valuable time merely to access basic services,” Panjikar claimed.
The Congress leader also pointed out that the Kadamba Plateau-Ribandar route lacks adequate public transport connectivity, which could further inconvenience people dependent on buses and other public transport facilities.
Questioning the rationale behind the decision, Panjikar asked whether the government had conducted any public consultation or accessibility assessment before shifting the office.
He urged the government to reconsider the move and retain the Office of Public Records in Panaji or shift it to another easily accessible location with proper public transport connectivity.
Panjikar also warned that people would oppose decisions that add to the daily hardships of citizens.
