The minister stated that the fraudulent disbursal resulted in significant losses to the State exchequer. “Till today, over Rs 50 crore has been recovered from these people,” Phal Desai said, indicating that the malpractice had continued for years. The scheme provides monthly financial assistance ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500.
The list of ineligible recipients includes the deceased, individuals who have moved out of Goa, and those exceeding the income ceiling. As per scheme guidelines, the income limit to qualify is Rs 1.4 lakh per year.
“Once again, we carried out an extensive survey,” Phal Desai said, while addressing reporters at Mantralaya in Porvorim. “During the survey, we found that there were over 13,000 bogus beneficiaries. Either it was in the name of those who had expired or he/she had moved out of the State. After the survey, over 13,000 bogus beneficiaries have been removed.”
He added, “This effort has benefitted the department in saving Rs 2.5 crore every month. We have recovered the amount which was paid to the beneficiaries. Till today, over Rs 50 crore has been recovered from them. During the survey, field workers visited the houses of the beneficiaries and found out from their neighbours that the beneficiaries had passed away.”
Despite the large-scale clean-up, the revelation has triggered criticism from opposition leaders and activists, who have questioned how such fraud was allowed to be carried out for so long.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had, as early as 2018, flagged similar irregularities and criticised the State government for wasteful expenditure under DSSS. That year, the government had admitted to identifying 6,000 bogus beneficiaries.
Reacting to the current development, AamAadmi Party (AAP) Goa president Amit Palekar said, “The beneficiaries submit forms signed by MLAs. Are not those MLAs who sign the forms responsible? How do they sign forms without verifying? How do the authorities approve money to beneficiaries without them being entitled to? It means that the MLAs and the authorities are hand in gloves. What action is the government proposing against them?”
He further questioned, “How is the government going to recover the money? If money cannot be recovered from the beneficiaries, then it should be recovered from the MLAs and the government officials, and criminal action should be taken against them.”
Political analyst Trajano D’Mello also raised concerns about accountability. “What action is being taken? Has the matter been investigated? Who approved it? After having officially declared, has the government or the minister or the department identified the officers responsible for allowing such a big discrepancy, which is nothing less than a fraud? Just recovering money does not solve the crime. Has any action been taken against the persons who approve the applications? Is the government sending a message that you continue defrauding the government and if caught, pay the money back?”