TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: By January 2014, beneficiaries under Goa government’s Griha Aadhar scheme are likely to touch one lakh, even as the Department of Women and Child Development, the implementing agency, is re-verifying details of those who applied for benefits under the scheme from December 2012 to June 2013. The purpose is to weed out bogus beneficiaries.
Since its launch in October 2012 till date, the department received 1,14,286 applications of which 90,495 have been approved, while 5,930 applications are pending and 2,398 are under process with Goa Electronic Limited. Four hundred and seventy applications were rejected for want of relevant documents and information.
Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 monthly dole is deposited in the savings bank account of an eligible beneficiary – whose gross family income is less than Rs 3 lakh – by electronic cheque clearance facility subject to other conditions.
The anti-inflation scheme was introduced to off-set the impact of inflation induced by what the State government called the Centre’s “faulty policies”. It was however hit by scam this September when Herald investigation revealed fake marriage certificates were being used by some to avail benefits. The government subsequently ordered an inquiry and assured to begin recovery proceedings from the fraudsters.
Meanwhile, 11,053 women have availed benefits under the Laadli Laxmi scheme till date. The department has received 15,658 applications – far less than the Griha Aadhar Scheme, of which 951 are pending for scrutiny and 231 are under the process of GEL. The department has rejected 182 applications due to incomplete information. The one-time Rs one lakh scheme was launched in July 2012 to prevent female foeticide and discourage preference for male child.
The two flagship schemes were on BJP’s manifesto going into the 2012 assembly elections.
