Team Herald
PANJIM: If statistics of the Social Welfare Department are to be believed, it appears that even the ‘dead’ have availed the doles to the tune of Rs 97 lakh under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS).
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In a shocking revelation it has come to light that the department has detected over 4,700 DSSS beneficiaries of which 4,000 plus are dead, while some have shifted to their last known residential addresses. The department has stated that the survey to update these records will continue for the next six months.
In its reply filed before the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC), the directorate during a survey identified over 4,700 beneficiaries, most of whom were dead and some who shifted the last known residential addresses, were required to update their details in the system as the financial implications involved in such cases were over Rs 97 lakh.
The Directorate has stated that the delay in disbursement of financial assistance for November 2024 was due to administrative challenges, updation of records due to ongoing survey of the DSSS beneficiaries to weed out those who expired, not traceable at their given residential addresses and those beneficiaries, found ineligible for availing the schemes for various reasons.
The Commission has now impleaded the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) as one of the respondents in the suo motu matter regarding delay in disbursing the doles to the DSSS beneficiaries.
DRAG president Avelino De Sa through an email had requested the GHRC to accept the application for intervention in the proceedings as its members were an affected party in the proceedings.
De Sa brought to the notice of the Commission that the Directorate of Social Welfare had submitted an undertaking to the High Court of Bombay at Goa in suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) that the DSSS payments will be released on a monthly basis.
De Sa also stated that rates under the DSSS pension were not revised since 2012 and the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in June 2024, had recommended increase in the monthly pension from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 6,000 per month and from Rs 3,500 to Rs 8,000 per month keeping in mind the high cost of living due to inflation.
He also recommended that the amount should be paid by the fifth of every month in advance. However both these recommendations have not been implemented by the Directorate of Social Welfare till date.
The Commission later adjourned the matter for reply of the DRAG at 10:30 am on February 10, 2025.
