PANJIM: An ongoing Impact Assessment Survey into the disbursement of financial assistance under Dayanand Social Security (DSS) Scheme has nailed 6,500-odd doubtful beneficiaries, who have now come under the scanner of the Social Welfare Department.
The department has stopped financial help to these “doubtful beneficiaries” and has begun verification to ascertain if these beneficiaries took undue advantage of the scheme.
Social Welfare Department Director S V Naik said that if these beneficiaries had indeed taken undue advantage of the scheme, he would begin recovery of the principal amount with eight per cent interest.
“At present recovery from other fake beneficiaries is underway. With regards to the doubtful beneficiaries identified as a part of the ongoing survey, we are verifying whether they are fake recipients of the scheme. We will start enforcing recovery process from them,” he said.
Out of the total doubtful pensioners, 10 per cent comprised of those who have permanently shifted out of Goa or are dead.
The department has already identified over 25,000 ineligible persons availing undue benefit of its schemes. Last year, over 100 government servants – availing the scheme despite not being entitled to – were issued notices demanding repayment of the amount with interest.
