Have debt, but spending on capital creation: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant outlines property reforms, ease-of-business measures, debt management, and mining revival, while addressing welfare burdens, US tariff concerns, and ambitions for tourism and agri-exports. He speaks to Aditi Phadnis at Goa Sadan in New Delhi.

- Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant outlines property reforms, ease-of-business measures, debt management, and mining revival, while addressing welfare burdens, US tariff concerns, and ambitions for tourism and agri-exports. He speaks to Aditi Phadnis at Goa Sadan in New Delhi.

You must be a happy man today! Last Monday, Parliament approved reservation in Goa's Assembly for the Scheduled Tribes.

Yes, we're happy. Tribals represent around 10 per cent of Goa's population and there was no reservation for them. Now four Assembly seats will be for them.

In 2021, you had brought the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill that enabled people living in Goa to own the land or house they had occupied, even if they could not prove ownership. This was seen as a way to protect the land rights of Goans but also non-Goans. But there were a lot of legal infirmities with that legislation.

I have brought a new scheme called Majhe Ghar. The Goa Assembly passed the Bills a few days ago. This will give long-term residents legal land rights for the first time. It is a major step towards housing security. This has seven components. Homes that had no number will be given a temporary number so that they are eligible for a light connection, water connection, and other facilities.

Then there is a Renovation Certificate. Panchayats are supposed to provide this so that people can renovate or rebuild their homes. In most cases, panchayats are reluctant to issue these. So, we have announced that the power to issue these certificates will henceforth lie with the Secretariat, not with the panch or sarpanch. The home is mine, I have been occupying it for decades, I pay house tax. Don't go by whom the land belongs to. If an occupant is paying house tax and fulfills other qualifications, he should be allowed to renovate and rebuild his home.