Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday asserted that Goa has outshone other states in key development benchmarks such as per capita income, GDP, and literacy. Speaking at the Regional Rural Workshop 2025 under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana in Panaji—attended by Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communication Pemmasani Chandrasekhar—Sawant declared that Goa’s progress goes far beyond its iconic image of “Sun, Sand, and Sea.”
“We’ve now added a fourth ‘S’—Spirituality. Goa is actively promoting spiritual tourism as part of its evolving tourism identity,” Sawant said.
Despite its small geographical footprint—just 3,702 square kilometers, equivalent to a single district in some states—Goa has taken the lead nationally in per capita income and boasts a 100% literacy rate, along with a strong GDP. “Goa has surpassed all other states in these critical development indicators,” he added.
The Chief Minister also emphasized Goa’s commitment to sustainable development, pointing to the state’s status as the first coastal state to submit an eco-sensitive zone plan to the Centre.
Looking ahead, Sawant announced that the state will soon roll out a subsidized housing scheme under the banner of “Housing for All.” He further claimed that Goa is the first state to implement 100% of central government schemes, positively impacting over 90% of its population.
Sawant’s address portrayed Goa as a model of balanced development—blending economic prosperity, social progress, and environmental responsibility.