PANAJI: More than 13,000 beneficiaries under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) were found to be bogus, leading to the recovery of Rs 50 crore, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai has revealed.
“These included individuals who were deceased, untraceable, non-Goan, or otherwise ineligible,” the minister said while speaking to the media, adding that in many cases, families failed to report the death of a beneficiary, allowing payouts to continue for up to five years.
Since 2011, the department has identified between 13,000 and 14,000 such cases. “We are now saving Rs 2 to Rs 3 crore every month, which is being redirected to the government’s account and can be used for other public welfare initiatives,” he said.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are required to submit a life certificate annually, failing which their benefits are halted. However, the department has taken a lenient approach. “We send our staff to verify the situation. If there is no response or incorrect information, we declare the person dead or untraceable and stop the benefits,” Phal Dessai explained.
He also disclosed that several non-Goan individuals were wrongly availing of benefits. “Their names have now been removed, and the system has been rectified,” he said.
With around 14,000 spots now vacant under the scheme, the department plans to extend support to genuine beneficiaries.
Surveyors have been instructed to carry out stricter verification going forward to avoid such lapses in the future, the minister added.
