from daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)

Panaji, Apr 19: Goa commissioner of NRI affairs Eduardo Faleiro has written to the minister of overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi and to the protector general of emigrants, New Delhi, requesting them to withdraw the licences of unscrupulous recruitment agencies and to impose on them other penalties under the Emigration Act.

Faleiro, former external affairs minister, expressed deep concern on Tuesday over some recruitment agencies, which continue cheating individuals on the pretext of providing them with jobs abroad. In 2005, complaints were filed with the local police against Zarina Travel Services, Gemini Travels Service and Nexus India Inc. in Goa. Last month a complaint was filed against some individuals claiming to represent "Guirim Good Placement Abroad".

The NRI commissioner reiterated his concern over the security of NRI's property back home whilst they worked abroad. For protection of their property and to safeguard other legitimate interests of Goans abroad and those working in other states within the country, the commissioner has urged the state government to take legislative and administrative measures.

He said the commission has proposed that the benefit of summary trials should be extended to the properties of non-resident Goans through an appropriate legislation.  Faleiro said during his recent Lisbon visit, Narana Coissoro, former Speaker of Portuguese parliament and at present the president of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Lisbon, had requested him to use his good offices so that a Chair in Indian Studies is created at the Institute.

"I have written to the prime minister in this regard so that we have a cultural presence of India in Portugal at the earliest," stated Faleiro.