Beneficiaries hail Goa govt's 'Mhajo Flat' scheme; say it will give relief to thousands in state

Panaji, Jul 9 (PTI) Beneficiaries of Goa government's flagship 'Mhajo Flat' (My Flat) scheme have welcomed the initiative as it will provide legal ownership to thousands of flat owners who have remained without conveyance of their properties for decades due to disputes involving builders and landowners. The 'Mhajo Flat' scheme, announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the 2026-27 Budget, allows eligible flat owners to form cooperative housing societies to obtain unilateral deemed conveyance of land even if the developer is unavailable or disputes with the landowner continue. The Cooperative Department will facilitate the process, after which the land will be transferred to the housing society, granting residents legal ownership, officials pointed out. "The scheme is a game changer for Goa. Several buildings have remained without land conveyance because builders either passed away, absconded or failed to complete legal formalities. This scheme will finally enable residents to secure legal ownership of their homes," said Dr Govind Kamat, a resident of Jairam Complex in Panaji and one of the beneficiaries. Kamat urged eligible flat owners to form cooperative housing societies and apply under the scheme, saying it would not only benefit residents but also enhance government revenue through regularisation of ownership. He congratulated the Goa cabinet and Sawant for introducing what he termed a transformative legislation for flat owners. Another beneficiary, Nyssa Coutinho of Panaji, said the decision addressed a long-pending grievance of families who had invested their life savings in purchasing flats but were denied ownership rights because of legal and builder-related issues. "After the successful implementation of the 'Mhaje Ghar' scheme, it is encouraging to see the government now addressing the concerns of flat owners as well. This has been a long-pending issue affecting many families, and I hope all eligible residents benefit from it," she said. As per the scheme, beneficiaries will have to pay a one-time registration fee of Rs 10,000 and a stamp duty of Rs 1,000. The Cabinet has also approved amendments to the Goa Cooperative Societies Act, the Indian Stamp Act and related revenue provisions to simplify the conveyance process, officials said. The government expects the scheme to resolve thousands of pending ownership disputes and pave the way for redevelopment of ageing apartment complexes that have remained stalled because of legal hurdles, they added. PTI RPS BNM