Team Herald
PANJIM: Revolutionary Goans has claimed that the name change by migrants is a real threat to Goan identity and property and has demanded an amendment to the Goa Change of Name and Surname Act of 1990.
Addressing media persons, the NGO’s founder Manoj Parab said a trend in Goa is setting in, wherein large number of name changes is happening in the State by migrants. “There is definitely a sinister plan here. It goes without saying and if we are not vigilant and let this continue, our own Goan brothers and sisters will be the ones to lose,” he warned.
He said the existing name change law is being misused to obtain caste certificate and avail benefits of government schemes, college admissions and even government jobs.
Citing instances of land grabbing after changing the names and surnames, Parab said, “Migrants have changed their names or are changing their names to the name of the owner of the land, who have no heirs or whose children have moved abroad and not returned for years and in those years the parents may have passed away. Then may forge the signature with the bureaucrats or officials hand in glove with them and get a copy of the land paper, sell the land and run away with the loot.”
He stated that the name change gives the migrants licence to become a Niz Goenkar without any suspicion and thus enjoy the rights of a Goan by applying for all the benefits under the government schemes.
Parab said that to safeguard the interests of the Goans and put an end to the sinister plans of those changing their names and surnames, an amendment be made in the Goa Change of Name and Surname Act of 1990.
“Revolutionary Goans will be submitting a Private Member Bill for amendment of Goa Change of Name and Surname Act of 1990. We want that only persons of Goan origin (POGO) is allowed to change the name and surname. Secondly, in case of a minor, the parent or guardian, who is a POGO, should submit the application. And if a woman, who is not a POGO, is married to a POGO then she is allowed to change the name and surname. We demand this amendment be passed during the forthcoming Assembly session,” he stated.
