the goan I network
MARGAO
Benaulikars came out in strength on Sunday to lend their support to the movement against illegal migrants and illegal business run by outsiders in the village and to demand an immediate check on uncontrolled migration through lawful means by the Panchayat and government.
Villagers thronged the packed Panchayat hall on Sunday morning, with the crowd spilling over to the corridor and the ground below, to participate in the extraordinary gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Ezlina Fernandes and attended by most of panchayat members. The meeting was specifically called to discuss the burning issue of migrants, who have been accused of encroaching in the traditional business of the villagers and dominating the locals.
After an over two hour-marathon meeting, where views were expressed on sensitive issues, gram sabha members raised their hands in unison in support of the resolutions, demanding that the Panchayat discuss the resolutions at the body meeting and initiate action.
Saying that the village is plagued by uncontrolled migration from other States, which besides burdening the available limited infrastructure, is causing demographic, cultural and socio-economic issues in the village, the gram sabha said the very identity of a Goan is at risk, while demanding this uncontrolled migration be checked immediately through lawful means by the Panchayat and the government.
The gram sabha also raised illegal activities carried on by migrants, like drug peddling, prostitution and criminal intimidation and asked authorities to investigate and book those responsible under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code.
Demanding that unauthorized trade carried out by migrants without permission from the panchayat should be stopped with immediate effect, the gram sabha said the interest of locals in traditional coastal
occupations and services like fishing, shack operations, tourist taxi operations,
garment and jewelry business, salons and massage parlours, restaurant business, etc. should be
protected and others should be not be allowed to run these activities, directly or indirectly.
Saying that no business for which permission is given by the Panchayat to locals should be allowed to be sublet, the gram sabha said that hawking and other form of activities which are clandestinely carried out on the beach is checked and stopped immediately.
The gram sabha called for a formation of a committee along with volunteers from the village to keep an eye on illegal activities on the beach and in the village. The meeting demanded that migrants who hang out on the beach and are responsible for mugging tourists should be checked and barred from entering the village during late hours.
Taking cognizance of complaints lodged by locals that migrants have been issuing threats them, the gram sabha demanded that criminal elements amongst the migrants in the village, who are threatening and intimidating the villagers should be externed from the village and from the State of Goa so that peace returns to the village. It has asked the law enforcing agencies and bureaucracy take cognizance of past complaints against one migrant -- Vasu -- and book him under relevant sections of the IPC.
On locals leasing out premises, the gram sabha demanded this could be done only after getting permission from the panchayat and after making available the required facilities of hygiene and sanitation to the people intending to rent out the same.
The gram sabha has also asked the panchayat to carry out a study on ‘the carrying capacity of the village’ taking into consideration the available infrastructure in the village, the permanent and floating population, the domestic and foreign visitors and take appropriate measures so that the demographic, cultural and socio-economic interests are not affected, and that the migration is on par with the requirements of the Village. Unauthorized trade without permission from panchayat should be stopped with immediate effect
Fishing, shack operations, tourist taxi Ops, garment and jewelry business, salons and massage parlours, restaurant business should be protected
No business should be allowed to be sublet
Hawking, other activities clandestinely carried out on beach must be checked & stopped
Committee must be formed along with volunteers from village to keep an eye on illegal activities
Criminal elements threatening, intimidating villagers should be externed from the village
Premises can be leased out only after facilities of hygiene, sanitation are taken care of
Panchayat must carry out study on ‘carrying capacity of village’
