MARGAO
Around 76 posts of Gramin Dak Sevak are up for grabs in the Goa division of the Department of Posts. Good news indeed as the Postal Department will be finally filling up the vacancies in the Goa division.
But, will Goans stand a chance or will the jobs go to the youth in neighbouring Maharashtra or from the North Indian States?
The Department of Posts has invited applications from the eligible candidates to fill the vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs) (Branch Postmaster (BPM)/Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM)/Dak Sevaks) in different offices of the Department of Posts. The applications are to be submitted online at https://indiapostgdsonline.gov.in
Based on the notification, Senior Superintendent of Post office, Goa Division has issued a notice addressed to a number of offices, including the Sarpanchas/Secretaries of the village Panchayats, besides the President of the Devasthans or the Parish Priests of Churches informing them of the online recruitment process for the 76 vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevaks under Goa Division.
The online recruitment process has already started with effect from July 15 and the last date to apply and fill the online applications is August 5.
While the recruitment process to fill up the vacancies may ring in good news, questions are being raised whether local Goan youth will be considered given the past experience that many posts were filled by candidates from Maharashtra and North India.
A senior official of the department of posts informed that the online recruitment process, though an all India exercise, the jobs should go to the local youth given the bitter past experience that many a successful candidates from other States take a transfer to their native States after securing a job in the Goa division, causing staff shortage.
The Goan understands that a proposal from the department of posts had gone to the Centre to give preference to the local youth while filing up vacancies in the Goa division to ensure that the successful candidates do not take transfers to their native States after their selection.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins has demanded that the Postal Department must assure the Goan candidates that they will not be discriminated. “There has been a strong feeling that Goan candidates who apply will not stand a chance due to the language issue. The Goan candidates are best suited as they know the area of work. Presently candidates from outside the State do not know the local language and local addresses and eventually take a transfer to their home State, thereby creating vacancies all over again”, he said.
Saying that a survey of the present staff shortages in all the Post Offices of Goa speaks for itself, Roland therefore this recruitment drive will be in a way a challenge for the Postal Department to resolve the issue once and for all.
Sources said Goa still comes under the Maharashtra Postal circle as a result of which candidates from Maharashtra also apply for vacancies arising in the Goa division. Promises by the BJP government to form an Independent Goa postal circle is yet to find favour with the Union Government.
Goan youth under the banner of Goan Hit Rakhan Manch had launched an agitation around two decades ago demanding an independent Goa Postal circle to protect the interests of the Goan youth vis-à-vis vacancies in the postal department, but in vain.
