In the legislative assembly elections 2012 BJP manifesto, the party secured 21 seats on its own, in great measure due to the dangling of social welfare schemes Griha Aadhar for economically backward housewives as a buffer against inflation, extended the Dayanand Social Security scheme for senior citizens, widows, widowers and disabled, as well as the Ladli Laxmi scheme for newly-wed couples to the tune of Rs 1 lakh. At the revised rate of Rs 1500 per month, the Griha Aadhar costs the state exchequer Rs 273.60 cr per annum and the Dayanand Social Security Scheme @ Rs.2000 per month per recipient Rs 331.20 cr. The two together costs the state exchequer a combined amount of Rs.604.80 cr. Add to this Rs 80 cr as one-time payment to 8,000 newly-weds and the total burden on the state exchequer amounts to Rs 684.80 cr.
The moot question is are the recipients of these doles genuine or are they being chosen largely as a mode of boosting the vote bank of the BJP? The very fact that 1,52,000 housewives benefit from Griha Aadhar and 1,38,000 are recipients of DSSS, there is a big question mark as to whether these populist schemes are churning out support for the BJP. There are only about 50,000 families in Goa who do not avail of any of these schemes. As far as Griha Aadhar is concerned can this scheme be dispensed with if inflation is being reined in thus saving the state exchequer Rs 273.60 cr per annum?
Knowing that women are usually loyal, does the Griha Aadhar ensure the BJP, a secure woman vote bank? The elderly are also usually loyal. There are grievances from several households that they do not get the benefit of the Griha Aadhar merely because they are politically disinclined towards the BJP.
If this grouse is true, then this social welfare scheme seems to be targeted only to those housewives who pledge support for the BJP. Being public money there should be no discrimination in doling out Griha Aadhar since public funds cannot be utilised for political purposes.
