The Parrikar government, instead of rectifying the maladies in the implementation of the 20-point programme, is embarking on a new Ambedkar Aawas Yojana which will primarily benefit the 'bhaile' . A scheme that permits you to build a duplex in the guise of housing for the poor. DIANA PINTO spells out some of finer details of the scheme.

I PASS THEM each morning on my way to work – the Ambedkar Aawas Yojana hopefuls, determinedly holding their own in serpentine queues outside the Mamlatdar's office in Margao. Groups of bright- eyed locals, probably lost in happy anticipation of making some quick bucks, rub shoulders with hordes of canny migrants cashing in on an opportunity to create for themselves a permanent base in Goa – their golden land of opportunity. And cosily ensconced in their plush cabins of power, our ruling gentry undoubtedly pat themselves on the back with gleeful satisfaction at having cultivated through their populist move a ready vote bank for future elections.

The 20-point programme from which the Ambedkar Aawas Yojana has been genetically cloned and styled, was conceived and implemented under a Congress dispensation. The BJP Government, however, appears to have swiftly donned the Congress topi with even greater savoir faire and finesse, demonstrating its ability to outdo its predecessor in the politics of cynical manipulation.

HOUSING THE HOMELESS! Will it benefit homeless Goans?

Take a look at the Revenue Department's Ambedkar Awas Yojana brochure. It informs us that “this scheme is designed as a replacement of the earlier 20 point programme scheme which was manipulated to a large extent, resulting in large scale misuse.” So its clear that the Government knows that the 20 point programme resulted in “large scale misuse” . Yet, it does not show any inclination to abide by the rules and rectify the maladies. Instead, it coolly comes up with a similar scheme. Except that strangely enough, the so called poor identified under the Ambedkar Aawas Yojana may have the capacity to construct three bedroom mansions, but cannot afford to buy their plots at the market rate. And in their unquestionable wisdom, the Government has gone on the rampage, distributing 10,000 forms in each of the 5 talukas in South Goa even before identifying land for the Scheme.

Now what about safeguards against those allottees who violate the terms and conditions under which the land was allotted to them? Well, the Government would like us to believe that it is on the job, looking after the public interest by incorporating in the Ambedkar Aawas Yojana Scheme the same threats of eviction and reversion of plots as existed in the 20 point programme.

GRAM SABHA RESOLUTIONS
BUT THE PUBLIC is not buying this anymore as can be seen from the Gram Sabha discussions on this issue in various villages in the past few weeks. In fact, a number of villages have passed Gram Sabha resolutions to block any move by the Government of Goa to acquire village land for this project. The reason for this can be fully appreciated if we visit just one site of the 20-point programme in our village of Nagoa, Salcete, right next to the Verna Industrial Estate.

On August 8 th , 1985, 25000 square metres of Communidade property towards allotment of house sites under the 20-point programme at Nagoa was acquired by the Government of Goa under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act. 111 plots out of a total of 159 were allotted to various people who fell in the category of “Below the Poverty Line” and who were under agreement to build their structure as per the specifications clearly defined in the specifications and drawing detailed in the order, and which were to be approved by the Village Panchayat.

The land was allotted under the condition that the “grantee should not mortgage, sell, assign or otherwise transfer the land or any portion thereof, except with the prior sanction of the Collector.”

The Order also stated that “the grantee shall not use the land and the building erected or to be erected thereon for any purpose other than the purpose for which it has been granted without obtaining the permission of the Collector. If no such permission is obtained from the Collector, the land shall be liable for reversion to Government along with the improvements made therein without payment of any compensation on any account.”

Today, a large number of grantees have sold, transferred or leased the allotted plots to third parties. In fact, in a letter addressed to the Sarpanch of Nagoa, one Mumtaz Begum, resident of the 20-point Housing Project has alleged that the allottee of the plot close to hers, one Miguel Dias, has sold it to a third party – Fatima Bi Shaikh, who does not reside there herself, but has given the house on rent to at least 25 tenants. Some grantees have further violated terms and conditions by utilising plots for commercial purposes.

According to the Order under which land allotments were made, “the grantee shall construct the structure in accordance with the plan approved and conditions prescribed by the local authority competent to approve the plan and prescribe such conditions or as the case may be, the building bye laws framed by the Town and Country Planning Department.”

VISIT NAGOA
A VISIT to Nagoa's 20 point programme will reveal that most of the constructions do not conform to specifications laid down in respect to setbacks and plans, particularly in regard to the permissible area of construction, drawings, specifications and mud walls. In fact, some of the ostentatious constructions can by no stretch of imagination be labelled as dwellings of the poor. To further augment the blatant disregard for rules and conditions, many of the allottees have brazenly encroached on Communidade land beyond that which was acquired for the 20 point programme, particularly on the Southern and Eastern sides.

No doubt the Ambedkar Awas Yojana brochure promises us that “such inspections shall be carried out on an annual basis by Collector concerned and a report forwarded under his signature to the Government, including any violation and eviction order carried out in such cases”. The dim prospects of this ever taking place however, are evident from the fact that the Collector of South Goa has neither bothered to acknowledge or reply to two representations made to him in this regard by the Communidade of Nagoa in their letters dated June 25 th and August 24 th , 2001. And needless to say, he has shown no will whatsoever to initiate action against the illegalities pointed out to him.

Twenty years ago, in an age of innocence and trust, the village of Nagoa handed over a vast tract of land for the 20-point Housing Project. Today, with every rule in the book having being flouted, and the Government conveniently turning a blind eye, Nagoa villagers are a sadder and wiser lot. Goans alas, have not really been the beneficiaries of this project, but the neighbouring industrial estate, whose employees, mostly hailing from out of Goa, have found in the 20-point programme a home practically gifted to them by the Government of Goa.

Goans today are aware that the Government of Goa is in the happy position of having the draconian Section 4 of the antiquated Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to power it as it bulldozes its way into acquiring private land for supposedly public causes. Goans alas, have also seen that years of lack of accountability have insulated our administration from public opinion and given our bureaucrats the idea that they owe the common man neither explanations nor responsibility. But the formerly gullible Goan populace have now wisened up to the fact that permitting their land to be acquired for such schemes is tantamount to gifting it to people from other states to benefit while Goans are slowly but surely being marginalised in their own home environment.

With a Government unwilling to display its sincerity and commitment by rectifying the maladies in the implementation of the 20-point programme before embarking on this new Scheme, it is absolutely clear now that the Ambedkar Aawas Yojana is not a public welfare scheme, but yet another blueprint for deception.

Goa has suffered years of Congress rule and is now experiencing the travails of life under BJP governance. But one incontrovertible truth that emerges from years of sad experience is that the Congress and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. Both have displayed that they are ever willing to sell out Goa and the Goans for their own nefarious purposes.

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