The Goa government has unveiled a major initiative to address housing needs by planning one residential project in every taluka, specifically for citizens who are homeless or unable to purchase a home. The Goa Housing Board (GHB) has been entrusted with implementing the scheme.
GHB chairman Jit Arolkar confirmed that the first project will be launched in Pernem, where around 100 one-bedroom flats (1BHK) are proposed. These homes will be reserved for eligible residents of the taluka under the Chief Minister Awas Yojana, with detailed eligibility rules to be finalised soon.
Unlike earlier plans to sell the flats outright, the state has opted for a 100-year lease model. This move aims to prevent misuse of the scheme, such as purchase through proxy applicants, followed by resale or renting at inflated prices. “We want to ensure that only genuinely needy citizens benefit. If an allottee becomes financially sound and can afford a home independently, the flat will be vacated and reallocated to another deserving family,” Arolkar explained.
The Pernem housing project is already in its final planning stage, with the foundation stone expected to be laid before year-end. Two government-owned land parcels have been identified for the development. Arolkar noted that GHB owns land in several talukas, while in others it will either acquire land from the revenue department or negotiate with local comunidades to move projects forward.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant highlighted the initiative during the recent monsoon session of the state assembly. He said the scheme would be Goa-specific but inspired by the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, tailored to meet the state’s unique housing challenges.
The 100-year lease model is seen as a safeguard to uphold the welfare intent of the programme and discourage profiteering. However, officials acknowledge that the scheme’s success will depend on strict enforcement—ensuring vacated units are reassigned fairly and allotments remain transparent.
The Pernem project will serve as the pilot for this ambitious plan. Its outcome will determine whether Goa can successfully replicate such housing projects across all talukas, offering genuine relief to the poor and homeless, or whether bureaucratic hurdles and land disputes will slow the government’s vision.