Lobo calls for online police verification system
MAPUSA
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Friday raised serious concern over the unchecked rise in the migrant population in Goa, claiming that the lack of proper police verification has created a potential threat to the safety of local residents, particularly in tourism belts such as Calangute and Mapusa.
Speaking at a press conference in the backdrop of the recent dacoity at a doctor’s bungalow in Mapusa, Lobo said the incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by unverified migrant workers employed in hotels, shacks, cafés and as domestic help.
“In Mapusa and other tourism-related villages, early in the morning or late in the evening, you will see only migrants. These people come to Goa thinking they can earn Rs 50,000 a month, but when they realise the reality, some of them turn to crime to make a fast buck,” Lobo said.
The MLA alleged that the police department lacks a proper mechanism for verifying migrants and that many arrive with duplicate Aadhaar cards.
“If a hotel has 80 staff and 30 are from outside the State, then their forms with complete details should be sent online to the police. But the verification process is cumbersome and outdated,” he said.
Lobo suggested that the government develop a digital platform or mobile app through which hotels, landlords and employers can submit migrant verification details online, instead of physically visiting police stations.
“We are living in a digital age. Just as foreigners’ registration can be done online, migrants’ registration too should be digital. This will save time and improve efficiency,” he said.
He warned that nearly 70 per cent of workers in Goa’s coastal belt are migrants, many of whom are employed without proper background checks.
“When verification is not done, such robberies take place. People who rent out rooms to migrants must also take responsibility. They should not house anyone without submitting details to the police,” he added.
Lobo stressed that ensuring the safety of Goans and women should be a top priority. “The government and police need to put things in order. Police verification should be simplified and, if any discrepancies are found, such persons should be deported immediately,” he said.
The Calangute MLA also urged the police to issue identity cards to verified migrants and called for better coordination with other States through digital data-sharing. “The police do not have the infrastructure right now, but this must change. Safety cannot be compromised,” he concluded.
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Cash box stolen from MLA’s Anjuna restaurant
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Lobo said that despite having CCTV footage of the suspect, police have yet to identify or trace him. Expressing concern over the delay, he reiterated the need for a digital system to verify hotel staff and workers online, saying such a mechanism would help track potential offenders and prevent similar incidents.
