Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has reserved eight percent of residential houses, flats and commercial spaces in the Goa Housing Board for the backward communities, in a bid to provide them with affordable housing. Government has also reserved four percent tenements to freedom fighters, ex-servicemen and people with disability.
The Goa Housing Board (Registration, Allotment and Sale of Tenements) Rules, 2015, which would be apply for sale and allotment of tenements, has been notified by the Government on July 7.
As per the notification, five percent tenements are reserved for other backward class (OBC), two percent to schedule caste (SC) and one percent to Schedule tribe (ST). Similarly, two percent reservation is being made for ex-servicemen, and one percent each for freedom fighters and persons with disability.
The total reservation for backward communities is much below their actual reservation in other sectors which stands at nearly 41 percent.
However, only those people who have been residing in Goa for nearly 15 years or more and one of the parent has to be born in Goa or the resident of the State for over 25 years, are eligible to get benefit under the Housing Board scheme.
The scheme specifies that two tenements under the Housing Board will not be provided to one person or a family. “The disposal of tenements shall be on sale (either by open auction or a lot) from time to time; with prior approval of the Government,” the draft scheme reads.
Apart from the reservation, the entire State population is divided into four groups based on the income level- economically weaker section, low income group, middle income group and higher income group.
As per new rules, a four member Allotment committee headed by Chairman of Goa Housing Board, for monitoring of allocation process will be constituted.
