Panaji, July 17 (IANS) Goa has borrowed a law from Punjab for safeguarding the property of Goans working or settled abroad, the state’s commissioner for non-resident Indian (NRI) affairs Eduardo Faleiro said Friday.
The Goa Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control (Amendment) Act, that came into force in June, was largely modelled on the East Punjab Rent Restriction (Amendment) Act which allows NRIs to recover possession of their rented premises through speedy summary trial, Faleiro told media persons here.

“Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh had suggested the legislation to me, which I forwarded to the state government. This law will certainly help to safeguard the property of our Goan brothers who are working or settled abroad,” the former minister of state for external affairs said, noting that Punjab had the best measures in place for dealing with NRIs.

“Earlier they (NRIs) would have to wait for longer periods of time demanded by the conventional judicial process. With this amendment, the cases are summarily heard by the Rent Controller’s Office and there is no appeal,” Faleiro said.

He also said that his department in consultation with the state government’s law department had drafted a Goa (Non-Resident Goans) Welfare Bill, 2009, by which a fund would be created for payment of pension to members who complete 60 years and provide financial assistance to members who are unable to work for more than two years at a stretch.

“We expect this bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of the Goa assembly. The fund will be created with the help of a government grant as well as a small contribution from NRGs wishing to avail this facility,” Faleiro said.

He sought to refute reports that the economic recession was forcing a lot of Goans settled in the Gulf countries out of employment. “These reports are unfounded. The global recession has hit the automobile and construction industry in the Gulf, but few Goans are employed in these industries,” he said.