the goan I network
MARGAO
Griha Aadhar scheme beneficiaries, whose names were struck down after a government survey, now face double trouble.
The insistence of Director Women and Child Development, Dipak Desai, in a circular that these applicants for the Griha Aadhar scheme obtain an income certificate from the taluka mamlatdars instead of local bodies such as panchayats and municipalities have put them in a tight spot.
The taluka mamlatdars have turned down the requests of the applicants for the income certificates on the ground that the government has not yet notified them as authorities to issue the same.
A group of women from Nuvem constituency realised the bitter truth when they had approached the office of Salcete mamlatdar for the income certificate in order to apply for the Griha Aadhar scheme.
The mamlatdar office point blank told these women that they have not receive any notification from the government empowering it to issue the income certificate for the intended Griha Aadhar beneficiaries.
Left with no option, the women are believed to have brought the matter to the notice of the Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa, who is believed to have promised to take up the issue with the government.
Taking no chances, sources in the know informed that Salcete mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar discussed the issue with district higher authorities since the office of the mamlatdar has so far not received any government guidelines to issue the income certificates.
When asked to shed light on the controversy, Gaonkar said his office is empowered to issue income certificates only for mediclaim cases. My office is yet to receive any guidelines to issue the income certificates to the Griha Aadhar beneficiaries, he added.
“I have discussed with my higher-ups and it has now been decided to send a representation to the government to guide the office on the matter,” he said.
When contacted, Director Women and Child Development Dipak Desai said the circular has now mandated the applicants for Griha Aadhar scheme, whose names were deleted after the government survey, to obtain income certificates from taluka mamlatdars. He clarified that the circular is applicable only for the old applicants, whose names were struck off after the survey. Desai clarified further there’s no bar on new applicants to attach the income certificates issued by the municipalities and panchayat bodies.
To a question, Desai said names of around 15,000 beneficiaries were struck off from the scheme after the government survey revealed they are not eligible.
“These beneficiaries did not meet seven to eight criteria laid down for the scheme. Those whose names were deleted are now required to obtain income certificates from mamlatdars,” he said.
Desai assured that the government will take necessary steps to ensure the taluka mamlatdars receive the notification empowering them to issue the income certificates to the Griha Aadhar applicants.
