Team Herald
MARGAO: Opposition MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Saturday alleged that the Griha Aadhar beneficiaries are being harassed by seeking fresh income certificates and submissions during lockdown.
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In a letter to the Chief Minister and Health Minister, he has called upon them to stop asking people to go to different offices during the COVID pandemic.
Reginaldo said many women beneficiaries of Griha Aadhar Scheme have cited that they have all recently received a message related to the submission of fresh income certificates of their husband and themselves from Women and Child Development, Government of Goa.
Reginaldo said the message reads as, “Dear Griha Aadhar beneficiary, Kindly submit your fresh income certificate (husband and wife income) towards Registration No: issued by the Mamlatdar concerned at Directorate of Women and Child Development, Panaji, within 30 days”.
“It is ironical that our State government on one hand is advising Goenkars to stay at home and go out only if it is necessary, but it seems the Department of Women and Child Development is least interested in the safety of women in the times of the pandemic as it is sending message to all beneficiaries of Griha Aadhar scheme to submit Income Certificates from respective mamlatdars and then submit it to the Women and Child Department in Panaji or taluka offices within 30 days of receiving the message,” he charged.
“Incidentally the beneficiaries of Griha Aadhar are around one lakh fifty two thousand in number in Goa and our government should not force them to go out of their houses leaving their children behind or take their children along during this pandemic to get their income certificate for submission,” Reginaldo urged.
Reginaldo informed that it is given to understand that earlier income certificates were issued by either the panchayats or municipalities as per areas. The Government has amended the rules for Griha Aadhar only and mamlatdars are directed to issue Income Certificates for Griha Aadhar.
“Goenkars are keen to know why this amendment was put into force by the government. Does the government not trust the village panchayats or municipalities? The government should tell the people of Goa the real reason,” he demanded.
“I appeal to CM and HM to immediately stop sending this message of submitting a fresh Income Certificate till the end of this coronavirus pandemic and at once stop forcing people to go to different offices to apply, receive and submit the said document for the Griha Aadhar scheme,” the MLA urged.
