Griha Aadhar: Rane says govt considering income ceiling hike

MARGAO
Women currently excluded from the Griha Aadhar scheme due to the existing income ceiling may soon be eligible for its benefits, with the State government considering raising the annual income limit to Rs eight lakh.
Minister for Women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane on Monday assured women that the government was seriously considering the proposal to bring more beneficiaries under the scheme.
The assurance came after a woman pointed out that she was ineligible for the scheme, while women belonging to business families were receiving its benefits. She said the scheme was originally launched by former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar without an income ceiling, but the subsequent introduction of the limit had left thousands of women out, even as women from business families continued to benefit.
Responding to the concern, Rane said the government had decided to raise the income ceiling to Rs eight lakh to extend the scheme’s benefits to more women.
However, several women questioned the need for an income ceiling, arguing that the Griha Aadhar scheme should be made universal, irrespective of their husbands’ income. They said extending the benefits to all women would help promote their financial independence.
Meanwhile, Rane also assured women from the Muslim community that the government would consider relaxing the documentation requirements to avail of benefits under the scheme.
The assurance followed a request by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, who pointed out that several Muslim women without birth certificates were being denied benefits under the scheme.