PANJIM: While demonetization has shaken the nation and the cashless concept stirred up the business community in Goa, there are around 300 persons in the State whose lives have been unaffected by it. For these persons, living in homes for the aged run by the government’s Institute of Public Assistance (Provedoria), the concept of money ceased to exist long ago.
They have no bank account, most have no cash in hand and no income, so they certainly don’t fall in any of the categories that the government intends to cover in its drive towards a cashless society.
“When any old person is brought here, he inevitably belongs to a poor family. Since he lacks any support, we provide him with shelter, food, medical facilities and basic necessities,” a senior Provedoria official told Herald. The homes for the aged take in persons who produce medical and income certificates, authenticating them to be fit to be admitted under the rules.
Though the income slab of Rs 1.5 lakh annually is maintained for any elderly person to be admitted in Provedoria run homes, the ground reality is that if not all, a majority are bankrupt. “They don’t have bank accounts. Even if they had one, they have no documents or do not remember having one,” the official said.
The few who have bank accounts have the minimum balance or hardly carry out transactions with their limited savings. None of the inmates receive any pension either.
So, while Prime Minister Narendra’s Modi’s demonetisation led several senior citizens to deposit old currency notes, saved over the years for contingencies, in the banks, inmates of the State-run homes had nothing to deposit or withdraw. Asked whether there have been attempts made to open bank accounts under the central government’s scheme, a government officer said, “Where’s the money to deposit? Only when they have money they can think of a bank.”
Director Vinayak Volvoikar conceded that the inmates are more concerned about getting proper care and attention. “They are bothered about their care and attention. Besides we also provide them all the requirements be it clothes, medical help, food, etc,” he said.
However, he added, they will inquire with the inmates if any one of them has in their possession demonetised currency notes, to enable the elderly citizens to get it exchanged at the banks.
Also, the State government’s Dayanand Social Security Scheme, extended to senior citizens, is discontinued once they are admitted in these homes. A retired Provedoria Director told Herald that suggestion to close the DSSS was essentially because the inmates are provided all care by the government.
“Around Rs 10,000 is spent on each inmate per month covering all the requirements and facilities. They do not need any financial help from outside,” he said adding that another reason to close the DSSS was because it was being misused by former staff and the kin of some of the inmates.
Social Welfare Department which implements the DSS scheme is immediately informed asking it to discontinue any benefits given to the senior citizen admitted in any Provedoria-run home.
