MARGAO: The residents of Benaulim have launched a programme to create awareness of the menace the village is facing due to Lamanis and migrants settling in the village by holding meetings in every ward which will culminate in a special gram sabha and a grand public meeting, at Dando ground.
At the meeting held at Pedda on Monday, Jose Fernandes pointed out how the migrants have increased in numbers and are now threatening the locals.
He said even he was threatened by some Lamanis against whom he has already lodged complaint.
He asked the people to be aware of the nefarious plans of these migrants to create communal tension in the village by celebrating their festivals on the roadside and using loud music deliberately to disturb the neighbours.
“The villagers have already given a representation to the panchayat which will meet on October 9 to discuss it and following that meeting a special gram sabha will be convened where all the points raised by them will be presented to the villagers,” he said.
“We shall also have a grand public meeting after this at Dando ground,” he said while appealing to people to remain united for the sake of their children and their future as otherwise Goans will become strangers in their own land.
Seby Fernandes, another villager, urged the villagers to allow migrants to live in their premises only after signing proper agreements and pointed out some cases where people who had taken premises on rental basis have evicted the actual owners and now taken possession of those premises.
“While signing the agreement specify that it is only between the two parties involved and will not be used to purchase anything or obtain any document,” he said pointing out that even passports are prepared based on the agreement signed by the owner of the land.
He also said migrants use the agreement to first get a ration card and then obtain their Aadhar Card and even Electors Photo Identity Card.
“With the increasing number of migrants in the village it would not be surprising to find Goans reduced to a minority,” he added.
He also pointed out that while Goans had gone out of their way to help the migrants when their shops were burnt at Cavelossim some time back, he lamented that the migrants do not even respect or listen to the owners of the land where they live or conduct their business.
“Some Lamanis kept their shops open even though the owner had asked them to close it down and when some village boys went to close those shops a group of over 50 Lamanis gathered to beat our boys,” he said asking the villagers to learn from them how to remain united.
Various villagers asked some specific questions and it was the general conclusion that Vasu Malgimani, the taxi driver, who is defying Goan taxi drivers and threatening them and also does not listen to his Samaj leaders needs to be ostracised.
“Even though he threatens people we shall not be physical and try to isolate this Vasu and teach him a lesson he needs to learn very badly,” said Jose.
