Mhaje Ghar Yojana: Goa Govt Scheme Sets Model For Housing Reforms In India

The Goa government has introduced a sweeping set of housing reforms with the launch of the Mhaje Ghar Yojana on October 4, marking a significant step toward ensuring legal clarity, faster approvals and long-term security for thousands of families. The scheme was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who described it as a landmark initiative aimed at resolving decades-old issues surrounding home ownership in the state.

A key highlight of the reform is the fast-track regularisation of homes built before 1972. Families residing in such houses can now submit basic documents—Form I & XIV or Form D with a survey plan and receive certification from the Deputy Collector within seven days, followed by a Panchayat NOC within the next seven days. By eliminating prolonged delays and complex paperwork, the government aims to restore confidence among homeowners who have long faced uncertainty.

The scheme also strengthens citizens’ housing rights by allowing families with 15 years of domicile before February 28, 2014, to claim ownership of homes up to 400 sqm. A 20-year restriction on transferring property has been introduced to prevent misuse and ensure stability.

Comunidade lands, which carry historical and cultural importance in Goa, have been given special consideration. Homes built on these lands before 2014 can now be regularised under defined criteria, while unauthorised constructions built before the same cut-off date have been granted a final two-year window for regularisation.

Other reforms include upgrading Class II Occupancy land to Class I, faster permissions for building and home repairs, and the provision of separate house numbers for nuclear families within joint households. Stamp duty processes have been simplified to reduce financial burdens on families.

With a 15-day service guarantee and a strengthened rehabilitation framework for displaced families, the Mhaje Ghar Yojana is being hailed as a comprehensive and people-centric reform that sets a benchmark for housing governance in the country.