PANJIM: The State government’s consultant for the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) Dr Balkrishna Pai has appealed to the public not to visit the 18 centres for renewal of their cards as the State has already auto renewed their cards by removing the requirement for cardholders to visit the centres.
This appeal was made in view of the pandemic and particularly for the senior citizens to save them from the hassles of visiting these centres.
Dr Pai said, “The public needs to know this as there are still people coming to the centres or enquiring about their card renewals, unaware of the government order issued last month.”
He said, “From June onwards those seeking new cards can do this online without visiting the centres.”
Explaining the government’s order where all the DDSSY cards have been auto renewed by a year, Dr Pai said that the State government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had taken a favourable decision of auto renewal of DDSSY cards from May 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
“A total of around 2.50 lakh DDSSY cards were issued. Normally in July and August, citizens go to 18 centres across Goa and renew their cards from September to August every year. Due to the pandemic and to avoid them visiting the centres, the government had renewed all cards issued except for blocked cards as that of government servants,” said Dr Pai.
“No need for charges to be paid of Rs 300 and Rs 200 as renewal charges for DDSSY cards. It’s free auto renewal and this is the first time in Goa and in the country this has been done. The government has taken a bold decision, which is a boon to the citizens of Goa,” said Dr Pai.
He praised CM Sawant for this unprecedented move in the country pointing out that nowhere it is auto in India, given that there are yearly renewals in some other States.
