They chase the foreigners and force them to buy their wares
After a brief lull the Lamani menace has come back to hauntthe pristine beaches of Palolem, Agonda and Galgibhaga.
Besides harassing foreign tourists the wandering tribe eatsinto the business of the local traders.
Locals and shopkeepers have complained that Lamani hawkers,who loiter on beaches, disturb the foreigners by forcing them to buy theirgoods.
Every year before the commencement of tourism season,Palolem residents submit a memorandum to police and other governmentauthorities to stop the Lamanis from carrying out illegal trade at Palolem andother beaches. The letter states that the illegal trade affects local businessinterests and also spoils the status of Palolem, Agonda and Patnem beaches.
But the memorandum has had little effect on the Lamani tradewhich continues unabated.
“Many Lamanis have become regular residents ofPalolem-Patnem,” said Simorn Rebello a councilor of Palolem. Some of them dobusiness from permanent kiosks operating even during the off season, he added.
There are allegations that Lamanis are also involved in drugtrade. Locals blame the authorities for allowing the Lamanis to continue withtheir illegal activities.
According to councilor, Rajashri Pagi, Lamanis fromdifferent parts of India have arrived at Palolem since last one week.
“We have no work in our state. To avoid poverty we travelall the way to Goa to earn our daily bread,” said some of the Lamanis fromAhmedabad and Surat who reached Palolem by train last week.
They said that they mostly sold artificial ornaments andcloths. They further disclosed that some of their family members even worked inshacks and tents in coastal areas.
“There are more than 200 Lamanis who have settled indifferent parts of Canacona with the blessing of some drug peddlers. Theconcerned authorities should take urgent action on their activities,” saidSantosh Gaonkar former chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council.
In the last tourist season Canacona Police booked most ofthe Lamanis at Palolem for harassing and selling garments to foreign tourists,under the Tourist Trade Act 1982.
