Cuncolim a home for migrant labourers
Due to the influx of migrants, the town faces a host of problems such as open defecation, dumping of garbage in the open and the increasing number of crimes; No proper system to keep a track of those with criminal background
The historical town of Cuncolim is flooded with migrant labourers. Over 4,000 migrant workers from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other States have made Cuncolim their home.
In the morning, one can see these labourers standing at Cuncolim market waiting for their masters to offer them jobs.
Cuncolim is facing a host of problems such as open defecation, dumping of garbage in the open and most importantly the increasing number of crimes due to the influx of migrants.
Open defecation seems to be a major problem in Cuncolim. The Cuncolim Municipal Council is feeling the heat as migrant labourers are reported to be causing nuisance in the town by defecating outside and not into a designated toilet.
These labourers reside in small rented rooms but landlords have failed to provide them with toilet facilities.
When contacted, Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas said, "The fact is that the council had not taken any policy decision on migrant labourers. There are thousands of migrants residing in Cuncolim and doing daily wage work. We have decided to survey all rented rooms, which lack toilets. I will discuss with my members and seek their views to control the migrant influx."
Secondly, the civic body is faced with another major problem of garbage as these migrant labourers are reported to be dumping garbage in the open. Garbage is seen piled up at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. Due to the presence of these migrants there has been an increase in the number of crimes.
Cuncolim lacks a proper system to keep a track of migrant labourers especially those having criminal background.
Some years ago, a girl was reported to have been shot dead by a migrant labourer at IDC.
In another incident, a migrant, who was working at IDC, had allegedly kidnapped a woman, who was found murdered a few days later. Especially girls from Cuncolim and surrounding areas, are alleged to have been abducted and some of these incidents have not been registered at the police station.
Police officers from South Goa informed that they have already initiated the migrant verification exercise. Police are asking migrants to fill the identification forms. To control on law and order, police hold regular night patrolling especially at IDC, a police officer said.
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