Nearly 14 years after the 2011 Census identified Panaji, Margao, and Mormugao as slum-dominated census towns, the Goa government has yet to officially notify these areas as slums—leaving thousands of residents without access to redevelopment or rehabilitation schemes.
Despite their classification by the Census of India, these areas remain unrecognised under the state’s official records, creating a major policy gap. As a result, government departments and urban bodies remain powerless to initiate infrastructure upgrades, housing improvements, or social welfare initiatives for the affected population.
Officials say the lack of notification stems from administrative delays and policy ambiguity. "Without formal notification, we are unable to plan or implement any slum redevelopment or housing schemes," a senior government source said.
With the 2021 Census delayed and now scheduled for 2027, authorities indicate that any meaningful slum rehabilitation effort will be on hold until updated data becomes available. “We’ll need to wait for the 2027 Census figures to re-establish the slum population officially before moving ahead,” the official added.
The prolonged delay has left residents in these areas in limbo—denied basic civic facilities and excluded from centrally sponsored schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Slum Rehabilitation Programmes.
Urban planners and civil society groups have urged the state government to take interim measures, including independent surveys and temporary recognition, to address the living conditions in these underserved settlements.