MARGAO: The monsoon season may have brought respite from the unprecedented heat of this past summer, but for senior citizen Paulina Katarina Fernandes, the prospect of four months of wet weather is a living nightmare. Paulina, a resident of Deao, Quepem, has been waiting for over a year for her application for financial aid to be approved by the Social Welfare Department. She is in desperate need of funds to carry out urgent repairs on her house.
Despite submitting her application under the Atal Ashray Yojana in March 2023, Paulina has yet to receive approval. The District Office of the Social Welfare Department has stated that the file has been sent for approval, a reason Paulina has heard repeatedly. Paulina, who is in her sixties, cares for her bedridden husband, who underwent heart surgery.
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“We have no financial means to carry out the repair works of the house. My son and I are struggling even to earn a livelihood,” she told O Heraldo. With the monsoon underway, there is a growing fear that rainwater may enter their house, exacerbating their already difficult situation.
Social activist Adv John Fernandes from Quepem expressed frustration over the delay. “Paulina’s file was moved in March 2023, but one year has passed, and the application is still in process. Every time the staff at the office in Margao gives vague answers, stating that the file is forwarded. Taking more than a year just for the approval of one file is totally unacceptable,” he stated angrily, demanding immediate action from the concerned officer.
A staff member at the Margao office of the Social Welfare Department explained that they have completed their formalities and are currently awaiting approval from the head office. “The process was halted due to the recently held Lok Sabha elections; however, once the file is cleared, financial assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh will be given to the applicant in two equal amounts,” the staff member informed.
Paulina continues to wait, hoping that her plea for assistance will soon be addressed.
