Deadline extended by govt so beneficiaries continue to receive support during Ganesh Chaturthi without disruption
PANAJI
In a festive relief, the Goa government has decided to defer Aadhaar-based payment rules for welfare schemes by one month. This move will ensure that tens of thousands of beneficiaries get their entitlements during Ganesh Chaturthi without disruption.
The government had earlier fixed April 30 as the deadline to link Aadhaar numbers with bank accounts and complete e-KYC, as directed by the Centre. Those who failed to comply risked losing financial aid. Officials said the deadline was extended, as many beneficiaries are yet to finish the process, and the government chose to be flexible during the festive season. “The Aadhaar-based payment has been deferred by a month since it is festival time and the government decided not to hamper the release of payments for those who did not comply with the rules. We have given one more month to complete the procedure,” Social Welfare Director Ajit Panchwadkar told *The Goan*.
Two major schemes carry much of the State’s welfare load – Griha Aadhaar and the Dayanand Social Security Scheme – each covering about 1.4 lakh beneficiaries.
Officials said that funds for July have been released but admitted there were some issues beyond their control.
“There are inter-bank issues. Some banks have merged, which has created confusion. Secondly, during surveys, when beneficiaries are not found at their residence, payments are withheld until they file an application. We release funds accordingly. We have to follow protocol. It’s not as easy as the public assumes,” another senior official explained.
Technical problems such as more than one bank account linked to one Aadhaar, change of address, or errors in Aadhaar numbers have added to delays. Officials said these are being corrected, but the process takes time.
“Once funds for a particular month are released, any beneficiary who misses out due to an error or other reason receives the payment the following month along with arrears... The volume is enormous, both in terms of beneficiaries and the amounts involved, so if there are such cases, they cannot be rectified overnight. The officials are on the job,” an official said.
Apart from the main welfare schemes, the department confirmed that benefits under education and scholarship schemes have also been disbursed, to help families enter the festival season with fewer financial worries.
