Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that Konkani would be made mandatory for appointing new postal workers in Goa. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that a new postman had paid Rs 3.5 lakh to secure the job.Sawant said that Goa Post is part of the Maharashtra circle, and postal workers are appointed considering their SSC marks.“We have empowered the Goa Konkani Akademi to issue certificates to people who want to apply for the job, certifying that they know how to read and write Konkani,” Sawant said. “The postal service administration will change the recruitment rules, and new postal workers will be appointed based on their knowledge of Konkani.”Sardesai, in his zero-hour mention, said, “There is fear and anxiety in the minds of Goans with regards to the non-delivery of postal letters in the state of Goa.” He urged the CM to raise the issue with the PM and protect Goan postal workers who have lost their jobs.The Fatorda MLA said that during his taluka-wise outreach programme, he discovered that 40 Goan postal workers, who had served for 15-20 years on daily wages, were removed and replaced by 50 outsiders from Maharashtra who couldn’t even pronounce the names of Goan villages.“What is happening to our Goa? Sting videos show letters taken home, addresses unknown. One recruit admits paying Rs 3.5 lakh for the job,” Sardesai said. “Corruption has reached the central engine. They approached the CM three times. No action was taken.”Sardesai said that the CM should fulfil his assurance to mitigate the crisis of these 40 Goemkars. “This is not just about jobs; it’s about Goan identity and dignity,” he said.Sawant said that he would consider the matter of the 40 postal workers.
