Abolish Custodian Act, samiti appeals to Prez

BICHOLIM, JAN 5
People from Mayem and Mayem BhuVimochan Nagrik Kruti Samiti have urged President Pratibha Patil to abolish the Custodian Act and give them freedom from the Portuguese regime.
Addressing a press conference here, Mayem Bhuvimochan Nagrik Kruti Samiti President Kashinath Mayekar stated that since several years, they tried to solve the issue of custodian property in the village, but the State government failed to solve the issue.
“We have now decided to approach the Centre and seek help to resolve the issue. In view of this, we will visit Delhi in February and meet all top ministers, including the Prime Minister, President and the Central Law minister,” said Mayekar.
“Mayem is the village of the people, who are staying here, and it cannot be the property of the Portuguese,” claimed Mayekar.
“Four years after Goa became free, there came the custodian of Evacuee Act which stated that the Mayem land belongs to the Portuguese and till date, people from Mayem are residing like slaves in their own land,” added Mayekar.
Mayekar further said in all other villages, the Mundkars have the rights but in Mayem the law is not applicable.
“We demand that all the Kul and Mundkars be given rights so that they can cultivate the land,” he said.
He also highlighted various instances, where people from Mayem are harassed and they do not have any rights.
“We do not get simple NOC from the panchayat or the government bodies and due of government’s apathy towards abolishing the Custodian Act, we cannot even avail of the schemes and benefits,” he claimed.
Mayekar came down heavily on the government and lamented that even after 50 years of liberation, the State government was unable to free the people from Mayem.Therefore, the Samiti has decided to take the matter to the Centre and has also urged President Patil, who is on the Goa visit, to look into the matter.