Govt begins accepting applications under revised scheme for widows
PANAJI
In a major administrative cleanup, the Goa government is likely not to face any hurdle in clearing the backlog of pending applications under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) while simultaneously identifying thousands of non-existent beneficiaries, freeing up space for deserving applicants.
An ongoing state-wide survey -- a bid to weed out untraceable and deceased recipients of the scheme -- has so far delisted around 8,000 beneficiaries, which is far exceeding the mere 700-800 pending applications.
This has not only paved the way for clearance of the pending list – subject to its eligibility - but also made room for fresh applicants to benefit from the scheme, which provides a minimum monthly pension of Rs 2,500.
“The removal of non-existent beneficiaries is progressing steadily, and despite covering only 10-15 percent of the survey so far, we have already identified 8,000 non-existent beneficiaries,” Director of Social Welfare Ajit Panchwadkar told The Goan.
“Since our upper limit is 1.40 lakh beneficiaries, this exercise ensures that genuinely deserving persons can now access the scheme,” he added.
The clean-up has already translated into significant financial savings with Rs 2 crore approx redirected to State coffers.
In addition to this, the department is expected to recover over Rs 15 crores lying in the accounts of the ineligible and deceased beneficiaries in various banks. Panchwadkar said they have already initiated the recovery process by issuing letters to these banks.
The current survey has focused on beneficiaries aged 80 and above, but officials are also inquiring into cases of fraudulent claims. Those caught making wrongful claims are directed to reimburse the government, with penalties imposed along with the original amount received.
In a parallel development, the government has begun accepting fresh applications under the revised DSSS for widows with children under 21 years of age. The revised norms mandate that new applicants must have an annual family income not exceeding Rs 1.40 lakh, though existing beneficiaries will continue under the previous threshold of Rs 24,000 per annum.
To streamline the allocation process, the government has introduced a first-come, first-served system for new applicants once the scheme reaches its capacity. Under the updated structure, widows without children will receive Rs 2,500 per month, while those with children under 21 will receive Rs 4,000. Widows whose youngest child is over 21, as well as senior citizens above 60, will receive Rs 2,500 monthly. The recipients will not be eligible for any other government financial assistance simultaneously.
By December 2024, the department projected to save between Rs 15-20 crore annually for the government through the survey. With the survey still in progress, Panchwadkar expects more revelations and additional savings in the coming months.
