Goa government launches 'Mhaje Ghar Yojana' to provide legal housing rights and resolve decades-long land disputes | cliQ Latest

The Goa government has announced a landmark initiative, the Mhaje Ghar Yojana, aimed at granting legal recognition and ownership rights to thousands of families living in unregularised homes across the state. This ambitious programme seeks to resolve decades-old housing and land disputes by providing long-overdue clarity to homeowners and facilitating faster administrative processes. The official launch is scheduled for Saturday evening in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with several other government schemes and development projects, reflecting a multi-pronged approach to urban planning, citizen welfare, and infrastructure modernization. By bridging the gap between historical land use and legal recognition, the scheme represents a significant step toward ensuring social equity, protecting property rights, and promoting citizen confidence in governance mechanisms in Goa. It is designed to address the pressing challenges faced by homeowners who have been living in uncertain conditions for decades, offering a transparent, legally sound, and streamlined path toward ownership and residential security.

Legal Clarity and Ownership Under the Mhaje Ghar Yojana

The Mhaje Ghar Yojana specifically targets houses constructed before 1972, extending a fast-track certification process to ensure timely legal recognition for eligible households. Under the scheme, deputy collectors are mandated to issue certificates within seven days, while local panchayats are required to complete their formalities within fourteen days, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays. This provision ensures that families gain rapid access to ownership rights without being burdened by complex paperwork, enabling them to secure their homes with legal certainty.

The initiative is rooted in the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which introduces a framework for granting full ownership rights through Class I occupancy to families residing in houses built on government land before February 28, 2014. The amendments also extend coverage to houses located on Communidade land, subject to specific conditions, thereby encompassing a broader spectrum of property ownership scenarios within Goa. To facilitate smooth compliance, the government has provided a two-year window for legalizing unauthorized constructions, creating an inclusive approach that addresses both historical irregularities and contemporary housing needs.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described the Mhaje Ghar Yojana as a “historic correction” that will impact almost 50 percent of Goa’s population. He highlighted that the programme would end decades of disputes and provide long-awaited security to Goan families regarding their homes. In addition to ownership rights, the scheme promises accelerated approval processes for construction and occupancy clearances, which are to be issued within fifteen days. If authorities fail to meet these deadlines, the approvals will be automatically deemed granted. Families will also benefit from a streamlined process for obtaining repair permissions within three working days and the ability to bifurcate homes for separate utilities and house numbers. These measures collectively aim to simplify administrative procedures, reduce delays, and enhance residential convenience for citizens.

The scheme further introduces reforms in property transactions and rehabilitation. Mortgage duty has been fixed at Rs 1,000, while duties on intra-family property transfers are capped, creating an equitable and predictable fiscal environment for homeowners. Additionally, displaced families stand to benefit from expanded rehabilitation measures, reflecting the government’s commitment to social justice and community welfare. By combining legal clarity, administrative efficiency, and financial reforms, the Mhaje Ghar Yojana addresses multiple dimensions of housing policy, aiming to create a sustainable and inclusive framework for property rights in Goa.

Integrated Development Projects Complementing Housing Initiatives

Alongside the launch of the Mhaje Ghar Yojana, several development projects are being inaugurated, reflecting Goa’s broader vision of urban modernization, environmental sustainability, and citizen-centric governance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will oversee the rejuvenation of Panaji’s Campal area into a green recreational space under the Smart City initiative, providing urban residents with improved leisure, cultural, and ecological amenities. This redevelopment aims to transform underutilized urban spaces into vibrant, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive zones, promoting both public health and civic engagement.

Infrastructure upgrades extend beyond urban areas. Forest guard hostels at Valpoi are being redeveloped, ensuring that personnel responsible for environmental conservation and forest management receive modernized accommodations that support both operational efficiency and quality of life. Additionally, a new Cloud Call Centre for the 100 Cyber Helpline is being launched, reinforcing the state’s commitment to technology-driven public safety, rapid response mechanisms, and digital governance. This initiative underscores the integration of law enforcement, digital infrastructure, and citizen services to address contemporary challenges related to cybercrime and emergency response.

The Goa Police will also introduce a new mobile application aimed at improving public access to safety services, enhancing transparency, and facilitating real-time reporting of crimes and grievances. By leveraging digital tools alongside traditional policing mechanisms, the state aims to create a more responsive, accountable, and citizen-friendly security ecosystem. These complementary development initiatives, in tandem with the Mhaje Ghar Yojana, reflect a holistic approach to governance, emphasizing not only legal and residential security but also the enhancement of public spaces, digital infrastructure, and service delivery mechanisms across Goa.

The comprehensive approach adopted by the Goa government highlights the interconnectedness of housing, urban development, technology, and public safety. By addressing long-standing housing disputes while simultaneously improving urban infrastructure and digital services, the state aims to foster trust in governance, enhance quality of life, and stimulate economic development. The integrated nature of these initiatives ensures that citizens benefit from a multi-dimensional improvement in living conditions, encompassing legal recognition, administrative efficiency, social equity, and technological accessibility.

Through the Mhaje Ghar Yojana and accompanying development projects, Goa seeks to balance historical justice with modern innovation. Families who have lived in unregularised homes for decades will now have the opportunity to secure legal ownership, enjoy streamlined administrative processes, and access rehabilitation and financial support where needed. Concurrently, urban spaces are being revitalized, environmental stewardship is being strengthened, and digital governance tools are being deployed to ensure public safety and convenience. Collectively, these measures exemplify the state’s vision of inclusive development, integrating social, economic, and technological dimensions to create a more equitable and forward-looking society.

By combining fast-track legal recognition with property reforms, rehabilitation measures, and urban modernization, the Mhaje Ghar Yojana sets a benchmark for comprehensive housing policy in India. The initiative addresses the historical neglect of property rights, mitigates conflicts over land and ownership, and empowers citizens with the legal certainty needed to make informed decisions about their homes. Moreover, by streamlining administrative processes and introducing digital governance tools, the state minimizes bureaucratic delays and enhances citizen engagement, ensuring that the benefits of the scheme are accessible and effective.

The reforms under the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, provide clarity on ownership rights for houses built both on government land and Communidade land. By providing clear deadlines for approvals, permissions, and bifurcation processes, the government ensures that citizens experience minimal friction in securing and managing their properties. Financial reforms, including mortgage duty capping and simplified property transfer processes, further strengthen the accessibility and fairness of the scheme. The combined legal, administrative, and financial measures represent a significant step toward equitable governance and long-term social stability.

Ultimately, the Mhaje Ghar Yojana, along with the array of urban development and digital governance projects, embodies Goa’s commitment to creating a future in which legal security, modern infrastructure, technological innovation, and social equity coexist harmoniously. By addressing long-standing grievances and simultaneously building for the future, the state demonstrates a model for inclusive and comprehensive governance that prioritizes the welfare of citizens, enhances public trust, and encourages sustainable development in both urban and rural contexts.

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