the goan I network
MARGAO
All eyes are focused on the Benaulim village panchayat meeting scheduled on October 30 as the panchayat is expected to discuss and deliberate on the host of resolutions adopted at the gram sabha against the illegal migrants and their illegal activities.
Sarpanch Ezlina Fernandes confirmed that the issue of migrants based on the gram sabha resolution is listed on the agenda of the panchayat body meeting scheduled later this week. She said the members will deliberate on the gram sabha resolutions and take appropriate action.
Baring one panchayat member, the remaining panchas along with Sarpanch Ezlina had attended the extraordinary gram sabha called to discuss the burning issue of migrants and their activities.
Hundreds of Benaulikars had attended the extraordinary gram sabha on October 20 to express their solidarity with Benaulincho Ulo, which is spearheading an ongoing movement against what they call it a movement against the illegal presence of migrants and their illegal activities.
Amongst other things, the extraordinary gram sabha had called for an immediate check on the uncontrolled migration through lawful means by the panchayat and the government as a whole.
Gram sabha members had expressed their apprehensions that uncontrolled migration is causing demographic, cultural and socio-economic issues in the village, putting the very identity of Goans at risk.
While demanding investigations by the law enforcing agency into the issues of drug peddling, prostitution and criminal intimidation by the migrants, the meeting had called for a stop to the unauthorised trade carried out by outsiders without permission of the village panchayat.
The gram sabha members had also demanded protection of the traditional coastal occupations and services like fishing, shack operations, tourist taxi operations, garment and jewelry business, salons and massage parlours, restaurant business, etc with a plea to bar outsiders from running these activities, directly or indirectly.
The gram sabha called for a formation of a committee along with volunteers from the village by the panchayat to keep any eye on all sorts of illegal activities on the beach and in the village. The meeting demanded that migrants who hang out on the beach area and are responsible for mugging of 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 to the locals, 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.
