PANAJI: The state government announced the Mukhya Mantri Janjatiya Mhaje Ghar Yojana on Thursday, providing financial support for purchasing or regularizing land or housing for members of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
Nilesh Dhaigodkar, the Director of Tribal Welfare, stated that the scheme aims to help eligible ST community members purchase or regularize housing with land, based on prices set by the relevant authorities.
Under this initiative, the government will offer 100% financial support via reimbursement for properties acquired pre-1972, with a cap of Rs 1 lakh. For properties acquired post-1972, the reimbursement will be 50% of the purchase cost, up to Rs 1 lakh.
Eligibility criteria include being a member of the ST community in Goa, a family income of no more than Rs 5 lakh per annum, and having previously benefited from the Mhaje Ghar scheme, according to Dhaigodkar.
The Director of Tribal Welfare will oversee the sanctioning of benefits under this scheme, and once approved, funds will be transferred directly to the applicants.
A monitoring committee, headed by the Secretary of Tribal Welfare and including the Director and Under Secretary of Tribal Welfare, will address eligibility issues and other unforeseen circumstances regarding the scheme’s implementation.
Dhaigodkar indicated that each year, 5% of the allocated budget will be dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the scheme.
