TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Expressing concern that Goans settled abroad are disposing their ancestral properties for fear of encroachments during their absence, Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said the government would come out with a suitable Legislation to protect the landed property of Goans working or staying abroad.
Parrikar further said the government will create hurdles via legal steps, to prevent outsiders from buying agricultural land, and vowed to ban conversion of agricultural land for any other use, other than government use.
He was speaking at the launch of NRI Commission’s Goa Welfare/Pension scheme for retired seafarers and dependent families at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Sunday. Around 270 applications were cleared by the NRI Commissioner’s office coinciding with the launch of the scheme.
“Thousands of Goans are either settled or working abroad. Their only link with Goa is their ancestral houses and properties. My government is facing a big question how to protect the property of not ordinarily resident Goans, but who are staying abroad, who want to maintain their link with their State,” Parrikar said, adding that he has asked the NRI Commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita to work out the details before a Legislation is enacted by the Assembly.
“Goans abroad want to maintain link with their State. But, unfortunately big time encroachments spanning around 4-5 decades have forced many Goans to dispose their land to outsiders or big time builders. This is one cause why mega housing projects are coming in the villages on the very same land sold by these Goans settled abroad,” he said.
Saying that he is aware of the problems faced by the Goan NRIs, Parrikar, who also holds the NRI portfolio, promised to clear the backlog of applications for the seafarer’s pension scheme within 2-3 months.
Lashing out at his opponents, the chief minister asserted that none of his schemes would make any person lethargic. “I am ready for a debate on the schemes, which are meant for those who are in actual need. The scheme for women is meant to fight inflation. It is not the main source of income, but a supplementary income,” he said, adding that a scheme providing for stipends for lawyers entering the profession will be launched by the government.
In his address, NRI Commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita said the BJP government has kept behind religious and caste considerations while launching the welfare schemes, adding that chief minister is more interested in people’s welfare.
“We welcome criticism. But, there are some inside the Assembly and others rejected by the people, besides those who want to enter the Assembly who want to create divisions in society on religious lines,” he said, adding “I fear that these elements may even criticize the chief minister for helping the Christian community over other communities by launching the seafarers scheme”. He said the government has taken up the Seafarers CDC issue with the government of India and exuded confidence of a positive outcome.
Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado also spoke. The function was attended by Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva, Damu Naik, NRI Director UD Kamat, representatives of the seamen’s associations and large number of seafarers.
Meanwhile, replying to a question, Parrikar said the government is open to creating a Cell for Seafarers by upgrading the NRI Cell into a department.
