Morjim (pronounced Morji the alphabet m is silent) is a Census Town in Pernem, Goa, India; it is situated on the northern bank of the Chapora River estuary. It is home to a variety of birds and is a nesting site for Olive Ridley sea turtles. The village has become known as "Little Russia" because of the concentration of Russian immigrants living there.
Demographics
As of the 2011 India census, Morjim Census Town has population of 6,760 of which 3,356 are males while 3,404 are females.Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 609 which is 9.01% of total population of Morjim (CT). In Morjim Census Town, Female Sex Ratio is of 1014 against state average of 973. Moreover, Child Sex Ratio in Morjim is around 1010 compared to Goa state average of 942. Literacy rate of Morjim city is 89.90% higher than state average of 88.70%. In Morjim, Male literacy is around 94.69% while female literacy rate is 85.18%
Russian immigrants
Congress Party MP Shantaram Naik has condemned the Russian presence, objecting specifically to rudeness, nudity, and crime including assaults and running businesses in violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Indian security agencies have become concerned with the Russian mafia involvement in drug trade, prostitution, and land ownership in the formerly quiet beach village. CNN-IBN specifically accused former town and urban planning minister Babush Monserrate of having ties to the Russian mafia. Politicians have also described the Russian presence as "bad for Goa". Current Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar participated in a Gram Sabha at Morjim in the role of the BJP Goa State President accusing the Russians of having all kind of vices. Vishwanath Azgaonkar & Sonu Shetgaonkar local villagers who participated in the Gram Sabha of Morjim employed the terms "Drug Mafia", "Russian Mafia".
In response to such complaints, Vikram Varma, a Goa-based lawyer in the employ of Russia's Mumbai consulate, said that of the tens of thousands of Russian visitors to and residents in the area, fifteen were implicated in illegal property deals in 2007 and two were arrested for drugs possession in 2008. He also said Russian visitors as a whole contribute roughly to the local economy each year and form 40% of hotel occupancies. Nearly 75% of chartered flights to Goa come from Russia. Consul General Alexander Novikov said there is no Russian mafia in the State despite the consulate's lawyer saying the contrary.
In April 2013, Goa Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Parrikar, who is also Home Minister in charge of Police, told the legislative assembly in Goa that Russian, German or Israeli mafias were not operating in the state. He was responding to a question raised by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Parrikar said "unobtrusive watch" is maintained on the activities of the foreigners staying in Goa. "If any foreigner is found involved in any crime, legal action as per the law is taken", he said.
The Goa BJP Chief Minister was saying the same thing as what North Goa Police Chief said when Congress Govt was in power before BJP. North Goa's superintendent of police had said "it would be an exaggeration to talk of a Russian mafia in Goa, though there have been Russians who have hidden facts about themselves from both the Goa government and the home country.".
During the three and a half years up to August 2014, the police have registered 182 narcotic cases in the state. The nationalities of those arrested for selling drugs are mostly from Nigeria, followed by Nepalese, Indians and Britishers".
Michael Lobo, Goa's member of legislative assembly for Calangute, told Russian media that local sentiments are only against those foreigners engaged in illegal business activities in the state. Michael said "We welcome all international tourists including the Russians, whoever is going to boost our economy. There are some Russians who are doing illegal business. When I say illegal businesses, I mean businesses which are meant to be run by the local Goans and the Indians, especially where restaurants are concerned. If they come on a business visa or a work visa, they are welcome to do business in Goa."