Days after the government has taken most of the schemes for review, beneficiaries especially of the Griha Aadhar scheme, have expressed dissatisfaction fearing that the scheme might be discontinued in the name of review.
However, the government has clarified that the scheme has not been discontinued but has been temporarily suspended for review, as the sanctioned strength of 1.52 lakh had reached the upper limit. All sanctioned applicants will, however, continue to avail the scheme’s benefits.
“The scheme has been really helpful and just because some people are misusing we should not have to face problems. The government should have cross-checked at the time of sanction, it is not right to abruptly discontinue the scheme,” a Griha Aadhar beneficiary from Panjim said on the basis of anonymity
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar speaking to Herald earlier had emphasised that till the old cases were thoroughly reviewed and those who were not eligible eliminated, the government would not accept more applications, as income-limit too was needed to be verified, as the VII Pay Commission was being implemented by the government.
The government was currently spending Rs 22.8 crore per month on the scheme but if one calculates the annual spending on the total 1.52 lakh beneficiaries it amounts to a whopping Rs 273.60 crore.
Is the government doing this because the people did not vote for them? When the scheme was launched BJP never said we should vote for them, it was for all. I think in the name of review, they are indirectly threatening to shut the scheme, another beneficiary opined.
Further, some locals said they had made applications in September-October last year but till date they were not sanctioned the benefit under the scheme. While in some cases there are beneficiaries who are yet to receive the benefits of the past few months.
Some of the beneficiaries have not received the benefits for the previous months. We want to know whether in the second phase their applications would be accepted. There are complaints that several government employees are availing the benefits, a disgruntled beneficiary said
Meanwhile, Women and Child Development Director Ruhi Redkar said the review of the scheme would be carried out to study the impact of the scheme on the people and it could also be termed as a survey to see how far it has benefited the people.
“In regards to Griha Aadhar Scheme, the limit was kept of 1.52 lakh applications and since that limit is reached, we are taking up the scheme for review and after that is done we will consider new applications,” she said.
The Griha Aadhar Scheme is a flagship scheme which was started by the BJP government in a bid to provide financial assistance and support to poor housewives and homemakers.
