People have been persistently opposing the influx of lamanis, opine that they are a threat to our identity, land and business.
They point out that lamanis are not just selling imitation jewellery and shawls along the beaches, collecting plastic and other scrap, but have also taken over other businesses like fishing, taxi operations and even constructions.
They complain that some of these lamanis are even seen creating a nuisance at the beaches and disturbing the visiting tourists.
Locals add that besides lamanis, there are foreigners like Nigerians and Russians who have settled in Goa and have set-up their business and also allegedly captured lands.
The Founder of Revolutionary Goans, Manoj Parab lamented over the fact of having to face migrants nearly everywhere. He has appealed with the niz Goenkars to unite against migrant menace before it is too late.
“Today when we come out of the house anywhere we go we see migrants selling vegetables and fruits, operating taxis and having their own shops even in our municipal markets. The illegal roadside business is a major concern right now which is killing the legitimate and local business operators in the market. Another equally important issue is encroachment in public properties and comunidade land where they set up their house. They carry out illegal business and cheat Goans. Some of them change their names and identity and become Goans with the help of government machinery,” said Parab, who has been fighting to save the Goan land and its identity.
“These outsiders are even grabbing our rights, jobs and peace. Today the safety of our women is even gone for a toss with the rise in migrants in Goa. The number of rape, robbery and murder cases is also alarming. Now they have even started diluting our culture and our identity by overpowering us and showing off their strength via religious programs,” added Parab.
While the leader of the group Mapusa Youth, Gauresh Keni said that migrants are more involved in several crimes due to which the image of Goa is being affected.
“Most of the migrants have built houses in comunidade land at Mapusa with the help of local authorities and created their own lobby. Goan vendors are being affected in the various businesses they are carrying out in the market. Ultimately, the Goans too are responsible for this. The government is also encouraging and helping them to promote their community for their personal benefits and for this vote bank politics. Migrants are also over charging in civil work being unskilled,” said Keni.
“Many Lamanis are even changing their surnames to grab Goan properties and get government jobs. In Bardez itself, there are so many instances where Lamanis are changing their surnames through public notices appearing in the daily newspapers, “added a local.
As per the Goa name and surname change act, only a person born in Goa can change their name and surname in the State, but of late it has been noticed that these Lamanis, who are outsiders, are also changing their names and surnames, which locals complain is illegal.
An advocate pointed out that there are many instances where Ramesh Lamanis are becoming Ramesh Naik. “Many non-Goans are changing their names and encroaching into properties where people are living abroad or are left unattended for years. Several abandoned houses and land in Bardez are being taken over by these Lamanis,” he said.
Earlier this year, the youth of Tivim submitted letters to the Village Panchayat and the Mapusa Police Station regarding the migrant’s menace at the Tivim railway station and surrounding areas.
In the letter, they alleged that migrants are illegally staying in the area without any identity cards and legal permissions. They alleged that the migrants are also involved in many illegal activities and thefts in the villages.
One can recall that earlier this year in July, two trains carrying thousands of labour class youth and ladies arrived at Tivim railway station via train no 12742, which had caused considerable amount of outrage in Goa.
