PANAJI
The Goa government on Monday announced its plan to draft a special housing scheme for the homeless and integrate it with the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to provide houses at a minimal cost to the homeless.
Speaking during the calling attention motion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the House that the integration will allow for a more streamlined and efficient process of delivering housing to those in need, utilizing both central and state resources and programs.
Sawant said that the government has already initiated a process and has identified land in Pernem to construct a one bedroom-kitchen house for complete homeless persons or families through Goa Housing Board.
“On lines with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the State government will provide one bedroom, kitchen house to complete homeless persons/family at a minimum cost. We will not provide money but will build the house through Goa Housing Board and give it to such beneficiaries. We have started the process to acquire the land and have identified two government owned land parcels in Pernem. We will come up with a new scheme and integrate it with PMAY,” he said.
The House witnessed a healthy discussion on the calling attention motion moved by BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral urging the government to provide homes to the homeless through the Scheme for Rural Homeless. He sought to know the steps the government intends to take in this regard.
Cabral said that the government should come up with a comprehensive policy integrating all the existing policies or schemes that offer housing benefit. He recommended that rather than providing financial benefit, the government should take the responsibility and construct the house.
Quepem Congress MLA Altone D’Costa pointed out that in his own constituency there are 25 families who have got no houses.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that the government should have undertaken a detailed survey to identify such homeless people and ensure that the benefit is extended. He also said that there are cases where the families have got no land ownership despite residing for generations.
