PANJIM, MARCH 21
Over the last few years Goans have seen their hard-earned money going down the drain in various types of non-banking finance scams with many such cases lying uninvestigated at different police stations.
There is no statistics as to how many such cases are pending investigation, says member of the Goa State Protection Council and coordinator Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network Roland Martin.
At the recently held World Consumer Rights Day function in the GCCI hall, here, Martin highlighted the need to bring all such cases together at the Economic Offences Cell of Goa Police. This will show as to how many such cases have occurred over the past few years, he adds.
He mentioned all the cases can be investigated by a special investigation team that could be formed for the purpose at the EOC. The SIT after studying all cases will be able to track the modus operandi in each case and this will help in issuing the do’s and don’ts for investors, he suggests.
He mentions if these duping cases are brought together it will speed up investigation and chargesheets could be filed faster. “Goa has seen many scams like internet banking, multi-level marketing, etc,” he said and added “Central Bureau of Investigation was also investigating one such case in the State.”
Martin says there is a great need for the Government to notify a nodal agency to handle all consumer grievances related to financial services in the State. “Also, the Government has to ensure that all registered banking, non-banking and insurance companies undertake an investor and consumer education drive in all the talukas of Goa so as to provide information about all the regulatory bodies set up by the Centre such as the RBIs Banking Ombudsman Scheme, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory Authority etc.,” he demands.
He mentions that various college forums and the two law colleges can lay a great role to bring about awareness on investor safety. Besides, there is a need for an investors’ association that can take up issues pertaining to cheating or duping, he states.
