PANAJI
With instances of financial assistance being misused under schemes such as the Dayanand Social Security and Griha Aadhar, the State government is tightening its grip to prevent similar irregularities under the Atal Asra Yojana, especially for beneficiaries from Scheduled Tribe communities.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday assured that part payment of Rs 75,000 for house repairs will be released to eligible beneficiaries before May 30. However, he made it clear that the second installment of Rs 75,000 will be disbursed only upon submission of bills -- as a proof of work done using the first installment.
Speaking at a special drive to clear pending applications under Atal Asra in his constituency at Sanquelim, Sawant warned that the funds were meant strictly for housing purposes and not for luxuries.
“The funds will be credited into the bank accounts, and the sanction letters will be handed over to the beneficiaries. Rs 75,000 will be credited before May 30 and the remaining amount by June 15. In total, Rs 1.5 lakh will be disbursed within a month,” he said.
“But if we find that the money is used to buy a car or for anything else, the second installment will not be released. We will also recover the already released amount if it is misused. Government assistance must be used for the purpose it is intended for,” he added.
Sawant also reminded that the scheme is meant for households with an annual income of up to Rs 3 lakh. “If we receive complaints or find out that ineligible people have availed the benefit, the amount will have to be returned,” he cautioned.
The Atal Asra Yojana, implemented by the Directorate of Social Welfare, provides financial aid of up to Rs 3 lakh for house construction and Rs 1.5 lakh for repairs.
The government has launched a series of special camps across constituencies to fast-track and clear pending applications. Over 2,500 beneficiaries have been covered with a total disbursement of Rs 56 crore with additional applications being cleared during the ongoing camps.
At a similar drive held in Bicholim, local MLA Chandrakant Shetye also appealed to applicants to ensure that the funds are used only for the purpose sanctioned. He urged beneficiaries to cooperate with the department in fulfilling document requirements so that files can be processed smoothly.
“To ease the process, officers from the Directorate of Social Welfare, along with the Deputy Collector, BDO, Mamlatdar, village panchayat secretaries and other officials, have been deputed to the camp venue to facilitate issuance of the required certificates,” Shetye added.
