Griha Aadhar and DSSS recovery to be waived off if beneficiary financially weak

Porvorim: Minister for social welfare Subhash Phal Dessai, on Tuesday in the assembly, said that recovery of Griha Aadhar and Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) benefits will be waived off for beneficiaries who are found to be ineligible, after a financial analysis of their economic status. He said recovery will not be made if the families are found to be struggling financially.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant also assured that all social welfare scheme beneficiaries will receive their benefits by the 10th of every month. He also said that in cases where the woman is eligible for Griha Aadhar, DSSS and widow pension, all benefits will be simultaneously continued if the woman is found to be from an economically backward family.

The assurance came after a calling attention motion by Priol MLA Govind Gaude said that the social welfare department’s recent drive for recovery has led to distress among economically weaker families under the Griha Aadhar Scheme and the DSSS.

He said in many cases both husband and wife had received benefits simultaneously, allegedly due to lack of awareness that only one member per household was eligible.

“Steps should have been taken by govt to review the financial condition of affected beneficiaries before initiating recovery and should have waived off recovery in cases involving economically weaker sections where there is no proven fraudulent intent, for compassionate settlement,” said Gaude.

Phal Dessai said that field workers of the social welfare department will carry out a resurvey in such cases and relaxations will be provided accordingly.

Benaulim MLA Venzy Veigas said that the relaxation ought to be provided, as it is the department’s fault that it did not have the capacity to cross-check the eligibility of the applicants at the time. He said some bar owners or taxi operators are also affected as they took benefit of the scheme but are not necessarily financially well-off.

The CM said that such bar owners will also be given relaxation from recovery if they are found to be within the prescribed income limit.

Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao, earlier in his zero hour mention, raised the long-pending issue of compassionate appointments under state govt.

“The Appointment in Harness scheme is to provide jobs to dependants of govt employees who die or are incapacitated while in service. This scheme aims to offer immediate financial relief to the bereaved family. It is learned that over 700 cases are pending of compassionate appointments for over five to seven years,” Alemao said.