Says Disability Commissioner’s proposal for dole hike under review
PANAJI
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said 21,000 beneficiaries of the Dayanand Social Security Scheme have been found to be ineligible till date during the course of an intensive survey being conducted by the department.
These ineligible beneficiaries have since been struck off the roster and the Department has also recovered Rs 60 crore from them, he added.
He was replying to the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to his portfolios – archives, social welfare, river navigation, archaeology and the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities. The demands were eventually passed by a voice-vote in the House.
Responding to demands from members for an increase in the quantum of the doles being paid under DSSS and other schemes, Phal Dessai said it will be sympathetically considered and proposed to the Finance Department.
As for the demand to increase the monthly doles to the persons with disability, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant intervened to announce that the proposal moved by the State Disability Commissioner for such an increase is under consideration of his government. Earlier several members including those from the treasury benches had voiced a demand for such increases in the monthly doles paid to beneficiaries of various social welfare schemes.
Speaking on the Archives department, Phal Dessai denied allegations from Opposition members that no progress had been made on the digitisation of records and documents.
He said, the Archives department has already digitised 3.76 lakh pages of records in-house through its own staff.
He also said that the department has taken up refurbishing and restoration of forts in Corjuem and Allorna which will be completed by October and December respectively this year.
