75 cultivators to receive annual financial aid
A traditional salt pan worker pours freshly harvested salt into a mound at Curca, as the sun sets over Goa’s age-old salt pans.
PANAJI
The Goa State government has announced a one-time grant of Rs 95 lakh for salt pan cultivators under the Salt Pan Conservation, Support and Revival Scheme. The scheme will be effective from the current financial year.
According to a notification issued by Director Environment Sachin Dessai, Rs 75 lakh of the total amount has been set aside as direct financial help for salt pan farmers. This support will be given to 75 traditional cultivators, with each eligible farmer receiving Rs 1 lakh every year. The aim is to help them continue and revive traditional salt-making practices.
The remaining Rs 20 lakh will be used for institutional support. This includes Rs 10 lakh for salaries and Rs 10 lakh for office and administrative expenses of the proposed Salt Pan Support Unit. This unit will be responsible for implementing and coordinating the scheme.
The Salt Pan Conservation, Support and Revival Scheme, launched in November 2025, focuses on restoring traditional salt pans and related wetlands. It also aims to turn them into important ecological assets.
The initiative seeks to protect Goa’s long-standing salt-making heritage, encourage the production of high-quality bio-salt, and support sustainable livelihoods for traditional salt workers, many of whom have seen falling incomes and abandoned salt pans in recent years.
As part of the scheme, the government has set up a Special Task Committee to prepare policies for the conservation and revival of salt pans across the State. The committee is also carrying out surveys to identify existing salt pans and assess their condition.
