The Seven Dhangar community families from Poriem village who were rehabilitated at the time of building of Goa Institute of Management, in the year 2009 are still waiting. They are waiting for the papers to the plot of land and houses provided by the government.
According to the seven family members, they were given 300 sq mtr plot to each family and Rs. 40,000 as financial help. They were given seven houses. There are around 35 people staying in the community of which 25 are voters. Three members of the community are employed at the GIM.
They said the plots were allotted by the local MLA Pratapsingh Raoji Rane along with RS. 40,000. The houses were given by Valpoi MLA and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane at a cost of Rs. 2.5 lakhs per house. However, the plot owner is still Pratapsingh Raoji Rane and the owner of the house is Vishwajit Rane. The house tax, electricity and water bills are coming in name of Vishwajit Rane, and these families are paying all the taxes and bills. For the last eight years, they have been requesting their elected representatives to give them the papers but all they get is promises.
Geeta Varak said “They have given us only one water tap for the seven families and water comes every other day. There is no other source of water here and besides this there is road or streetlight here. Our children have to walk 12 km every day to reach school and if they fall sick , it is quite a distance to walk to the doctor”. Manohar Varak said “We are now demanding the ownership of the plots and houses. It’s been eight years. The house tax, water and electricity bills are coming in the name of our local MLAs and we are paying all the taxes and bills. ” This sentiment was expressed by various other residents. Laxman Dhaku Bawdane said they were rehabilitated in an isolated place which did not possess basic facilities like water, road and electricity. We demand to the Government to provide us proper basic facilities”.
The President of the Sattari Taluka Dhangar Samaj, BD Mote said they would with the help of the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, provide the seven families with the ownership papers and provide justice to the people.
