State Planning Board Member Rama Chandra Panda has demanded that the Central Government provide better infrastructure to the Brahmapur Passport Seva Kendra as it is running with both manpower and infrastructure crunch.
Notably the Kendra was opened by the MEA with the co-operation of Indian Posts at Brahmapur Head Post Office on February 26.
According to information available, the Brahmapur Passport Seva Kendra ranks top position in terms number of applicants and the revenue it generates compared to other seven Seva Kendras of the State. This unit receives, on an average, 50 applications a day, thus generating revenue of Rs 75,000 as processing fee for the Government.
It may be mentioned that, the kendra has been entrusted with only the task of document verification and processing of applications for onward transmission to Regional Passport office, Bhubaneswar, for issue of passports. Currently, the entire workload of the Seva Kendra is being borne by only two Postal Assistants of the Brahmapur Head Post Office.
However, according to a senior citizen waiting for the verification of document, there is no sufficient seating space, no adequate and comfortable chairs to wait, and no security to watch and guard the main gate. The entire Passport Seva Kendra is currently managed with just one ceiling fan and a few plastic chairs.
An insider said that for last three months, not a single passport has been issued by the Regional Passport Office on the ground of non availability of staff, as a result of which, the two existing officials of the Kendra are the victims of public anger, as they have no other option except to work under stress. There is a growing demand among the local public to provide two ACs and to post a security personnel to manage the crowd and to guard the gate.
When this correspondent drew the attention of the Post Master of Brahmapur Head Post Office Ambikeswar Behera in the matter, he agreed that there is a lot of public pressure on this Seva Kendra and the Post Office has provided the basic infrastructure to the extent possible for smooth functioning of the Seva Kendra. Behera also agreed that posting of a security personnel by the Government would be of great help. Since the Head Post Office has already deputed two of its Postal Assistants, it cannot provide more manpower to the Seva Kendra and he is not the controlling authority , Behera clarified.
Recalling the past experience of theft of huge cash from the Head Post Office by a stranger, Behera, however, expressed his concern about the non availability of security personnel.