TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: After modifying its pet scheme Laadli Laxmi with the aim to extend the Rs one lakh financial help to girls wishing to venture into entrepreneurship or higher studies, the Goa government is contemplating to enhance the scheme in a bid to reach out to girls/women with chronic medical conditions.
Although the proposal is still at the discussion stage, the department of Women and Child Development is of the opinion that this will help underprivileged women.
“We held a first round of meetings to discuss the possibility of extending the financial assistance to girls/women suffering from chronic ailments. If approved, it will help them undergo expensive treatments they require and to buy medicines,” WCD minister Dilip Parulekar told Herald. The scheme will continue to remain for girls above the age of 18 years.
The pet scheme of then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was introduced soon after the BJP-led coalition came to power in 2012, to benefit girls at the time of their marriage. The government recently decided to extend the benefit to girls who wish to be self-employed or want to pursue higher studies.
The department has till date sanctioned 23,433 applications for Laadli Laxmi out of a total 33,009 received, while 395 have been rejected on various grounds. There has been a record sanction of 1457 applications in one month. During the last week, the department sanctioned 250 applications.
Meanwhile, the department, which is also the implementing agency for the Griha Aadhar scheme has sanctioned 1,23,624 applications till May 22, 2015 with 476 cleared during the last week.
