PANJIM: Strange it may sound but true, the new age politicians are the new underprivileged class as they better in getting loans at a better or negligible rates compared to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribes and so also Other Backward Classes.
An RTI reply by the Goa State Legislature shows that most MLAs and ex-MLAs have availed loans for purchasing house and car.
The ministers and MLAs of the House are entitled for Rs 30,00,000 of housing loan and Rs 15,00,000 as car loan.
But what is the shocking point is the MLAs, most of who have huge businesses and already possess big houses, are availing of these loans.
In last three years the State legislature has disbursed Rs 5,05,00,000 for housing loan and Rs 4,67,74,081 for car loans to MLAs.
This is at a time when the State is in due financial stress.
The State debts have risen to a whopping Rs 15,000 crore and here the State is giving away Rs 10 cr at throwaway interest rate.
What is even more shocking is that the State has taken loans from market at a much higher rate than it has given loan to MLAs.
As per the information available with Herald, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation is borrowing from private institutions at much higher rate.
The GSIDC has borrowed from Bank of India @ 9.9%; from Canara Bank @ 10.25%, HDFC @10.5%, EDC @ 11%, Indian Bank @ 10.95% and NABARD 10.75%.
What is interesting is the youth, who are finding tough to get jobs are looking at the government for assistance for self-employment.
These youth who are given loans are running from pillar to post @8 per cent for males and @6 per cent for females by the Economic Development Corporation which implements the Chief Minister Rojgar Yojana.
Not only this the government servant who gives his entire life to his service, gets an housing loan @ five per cent per annum.
With the MLAs getting it at just 2 per cent it is a grave injustice to the youth and common man.
In 2017, The Manohar Parrikar government had hiked the salary and allowances of the mantris and MLAs by 77 per cent
According to the information, the MLAs currently draw a lakh as their, the MLA gets almost Rs 1.70 lakh per month as salary.
Besides, the amount payable to each legislator for accommodation is currently Rs 3,000. They are also entitled to travelling allowance payable to a member in lieu of accommodation/stay during his travel outside the State in the capacity of the committee member or in an official capacity is Rs 7,500.
