Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday demanded that the State government immediately revoke its decision to stop the Housing Building Advance (HBA) scheme, initiated in 1988 for the government servants.
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In a memorandum submitted to Secretary Finance, GFP leaders have said they protest the government decision to withdraw and close the HBA rules and scheme for government employees.
The memorandum has been signed by party vice president Durgadas Kamat, Dilip Prabhudesai, general secretary Prashant Naik and Mohandas Lolienkar.
Speaking to media persons, Kamat said Secretary Finance Dault Hawaldar has assured to put up the matter before government for decision. “We have pointed out how, the decision will affect 5000 beneficiaries,” he said.
“The decision is very regressive, unjust and harsh and will put the 5000 or so employees, who have availed of this scheme and their dependents and families to great hardship,” the GFP said.
Stating that the scheme was launched in 1988 to enable government servants to fulfill the dream of owning a house, the GFP said in last 32 years, no government has thought it necessary or proper to close this scheme as it enabled its employees to own a very basic necessity, a home.
“On the contrary, even in adverse situations, successive governments have protected the interests of its employees and revised the scheme accordingly. However, the incumbent government’s decision to withdraw the scheme is an abdication of its responsibilities to its employees,” the leaders charged.
