The decision to review some of the BJP’s flagship schemes by its own party led government assumes significance. While none of the schemes have been disbanded and the official word is that they are being “reviewed”, it is perhaps just as prudent to evaluate the implementation of the schemes, analyse the bottlenecks and then of course do an honest assessment of whether the state can actually afford to continue to spend that much.
For instance the spend on the Griha Aadhar scheme- under which Rs 1.52 lakh beneficiary women get Rs 1500 a month costs the state almost Rs 275 crores per annum. What the mandarins who control the state finances must evaluate and set benchmarks for is what percentage of revenues accrued can be spent on social welfare. Politics overtook financial reasoning in the run up to the 2017 elections when former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar increased the Griha Aadhar amount to Rs 1500 a month from the already increased Rs 1200, from the starting amount of Rs 1000 per month.
The same considerations resulted in the age limit of beneficiaries for the Ladli Lakshmi scheme go up to 45 from the earlier 40 on the grounds that unmarried women over 40 “should not be denied the opportunity” of the scheme.
It is perhaps a good time to pause and for the first time look at the ground level evaluation already done and check those observations which are indeed very valid.
For the Griha Aadhar Scheme, where Rs 1500 comes in the savings account of the beneficiary each month, it has been widely found that the money is used by the husband and the wife deprived. At the same time, there are indications that the Chief Minister has also ordered a check on the genuineness of all beneficiaries.
Then there are procedural loopholes like not getting benefits due to non submission of life certificates in time.It has also been found that many are not submitting their life certificates simply due to lack of knowledge. That needs to be course corrected to increased awareness. Interestingly many have opted out of this scheme, according to reports, to avail DSSS benefit and most senior citizens prefer DSSS.
The Ladli Lakshmi scheme, another flagship continues to have basic logistical issues. Benefit for newly married reaches late, much after the wedding expenses have been incurred. This is also due to delay from the applicants side. Then girls who are married and settled abroad find it difficult to get signatures for release of assistance.
Thirdly many women do have accounts in their own name in India when they marry and settle abroad and there is no account to deposit the scheme amount in.
While there is no need to discontinue these schemes which have indeed helped many, especially the elderly and the destitute, the continuance of these schemes makes sense only if the loose ends are tied up and procedural delays, mainly on account of the beneficiaries, are eliminated.
But there is no doubt that the payouts are hurting in the current financial stress. With the pay commission increase roll outs and no plan to restructure the workforce, we are dealing with an extremely bloated bureaucracy which needs to be paid.
Ironically the welfare schemes, which need protection have come under scrutiny while we don’t yet know when the salaries paid to a bloated workforce will ever be brought into question.
