The government has decided to crack down on those providing accommodation to foreigners without registering their details online. It is mandatory under the Foreigners Order 1948 for hotel owners, guest houses, individual houses and others providing accommodation to foreigners, to transit the Form C to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO). Defaulters may face prosecution under order 16 of the Foreigners Order, 1948, read with Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946. Now the system just got tighter with a one-time password based activation of Form C login. An OTP will be sent automatically by the system to the mobile number of the user which is mentioned in the registration form. This system effectively plugs all loopholes and makes it foolproof. The crackdown on illegal accommodation of foreigners may be well intended but the state administration should also seriously consider a check on migrants making Goa their home. There is a huge influx of migrants in the State and against the backdrop of a rising crime rate, there is even more reason to have a proper account of migrants. Checks and balances need to be in place so that peace prevails in Goa.
