PONDA: An agricultural tenants association from Ponda has called for a special survey of tenants for “providing them justice.” The association has threatened to launch a massive agitation if the government does not meet its demand.
The demand was made on Thursday by Ramkrishna Zalmi, the convenor of Goychya Kul-Mundkar Association.
He said that conducting a special survey of tenants is essential to provide the tenants right over the land they are tilling.
Zalmi said that at least two mamlatdars are needed in each taluka to conduct special survey of tenants.
Disputing the government figure that there are only 4000 tenants in Goa, he questioned, “How can the government claim that there are only 4000 tenants in Goa, without conducting a survey?” He claimed that “there are around 40,000 tenants in Goa.”
According to him Pernem, Bardez, Salcet and Ponda have the maximum number of tenants.
He informed that on the occasion of death anniversary of first Chief Minister Bahusaheb Bandokar, a programme will be organised for the tenants to make the aware of their rights. The event will be held at Zareshwar Hall, Ponda, on 12 August at 4 pm.
Zalmi reminded the government of his association’s massive agitation in 2014, after it amended the Tenancy Act and handed over the cases to civil courts, where hundreds of tenants lost their cases for want of documentary evidence.
“Our objective of agitation this time is to demand for special survey and legal right to deemed tenants to the land they are tilling,” he said.
