ATAL ASRA SPECIAL DRIVE
PANAJI
A day after assuring that government is committed to fulfilling the dream of every Goan to have a house of their own, Minister for Social Welfare Subhash Phal Desai on Wednesday said that priority will be given to the needy beneficiaries in view of the forthcoming monsoon season.
Speaking during the third special drive under the Atal Asra Yojana, held to scrutinise pending applications under the scheme, the minister reiterated that housing is a basic necessity and emphasised that the government is working on the ‘Antyodaya Tatva’ -- the upliftment of the poorest.
“The Goa government is working on the antodaya tatva and works hard to achieve the goal of housing for all. Priority will be given to needy and deserving beneficiaries who do not have proper housing/ shelter or to those who do not have a proper roof but have temporary arrangements... so that they are able to protect themselves from the forthcoming monsoon season,” he said.
The minister informed that over 250 applications have been scrutinised so far under the special drive that began on May 12. On Wednesday alone, a total of 84 applications were reviewed and compliance was sought in 71 of them. To facilitate the process, authorities including the Deputy Collector, BDO, Mamlatdar, and Village Panchayat Secretaries, along with the entire team from the Directorate of Social Welfare, have been deputed to the venues to help applicants obtain the necessary certificates.
Phal Desai directed that sanction orders for eligible applications be issued at the earliest and the payments be released within 15 days.
Earlier this month, the minister stated that around 6,000 applications under the Atal Asra scheme are currently pending across Goa, and the government is looking at clearing 200 applications per constituency this year.
It has also come to the fore that since its inception, the scheme has benefited 2,564 people, with a total disbursement of Rs 56 crore. Under Atal Asra, eligible beneficiaries from economically weaker sections, especially SC, ST, and OBC communities, are provided financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh for house construction and Rs 1.5 lakh for house repairs.
As part of the special drive to dispose of pending applications, further drives are scheduled on May 16 at Bicholim. On May 17, it will move to the Sanquelim followed by Sanvordem on May 19. The Mayem drive will be held on May 21. Director of Social Welfare Ajit Panchwadkar stated that the special drive begins at 10 am on each scheduled day and is being closely monitored by the Office of the Chief Minister. Attendance of all designated officials is compulsory.
