PANAJI
Within just four months of the ongoing financial year, the State government has exhausted funds allocated under the Atal Asra Yojana, a flagship housing assistance scheme for weaker sections.
The Social Welfare Department confirmed that the entire budgeted amount of Rs 10 crore had been utilised during a simultaneous special drive to scrutinise and clear long-pending applications. With several applications still pending, the department is now contemplating proposing to the government for additional funds.
“We have exhausted funds for this financial year within four months. Several applications have been cleared and disposed of, and the remaining are pending. We will be seeking more funds through a proposal to the government soon,” Social Welfare Director Ajit Panchwadkar told The Goan.
Under the scheme, Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class and Economically Weaker Section families with an annual income of less than Rs 3 lakh are eligible. The assistance ranges up to Rs 3 lakh for new house construction and Rs 1.5 lakh for repairs of existing houses.
The government had launched a drive across all constituencies in May, ahead of the monsoon, to accelerate pending cases. Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai had directed officials to issue sanction orders swiftly and release payments within 15 days of approval. At the time, he said around 6,000 applications were pending across Goa, and the government aimed to clear 200 per constituency this year.
Since its inception, Atal Asra has disbursed Rs 56 crore, benefiting 2,564 families.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, addressing a clearance drive in his Sanquelim constituency, had even warned against misuse of the scheme while stressing that financial assistance was meant strictly for housing needs and not “for luxuries”. He had also noted concerns that other welfare schemes like Dayanand Social Security and Griha Aadhar had previously seen instances of diversion of funds.
Government sources said scrutiny of applications will continue, but fresh approvals may hinge on additional allocations from the State exchequer.
