Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The state government will shortly start taking new applications for widows with children under the age of 21 under the revised Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS).
Following an ongoing survey that found many current participants are either deceased or untraceable, the Department of Social Welfare, the government department responsible for managing the program, has identified approximately 4,000 open spots. Beneficiaries 80 years of age and older have so far been included in the study.
As a result, the program, which can only serve a maximum of 1.40 lakh participants, will accept new applicants while putting others on a waiting list.
According to the scheme’s updated guidelines, applicants’ yearly household income cannot be more than Rs 1.50 lakh. However, current recipients will still be qualified under the existing annual income cap of Rs 24,000.
On December 19, the administration declared that, should the maximum capacity be reached, applicants will be ranked in order of priority.
Widows without children would earn Rs 2,500 per month under the new arrangement, while widows with children under the age of 21 will receive Rs 4,000. Widows over 60 and those whose youngest kid is older than 21 would also receive Rs 2,500 per month.
One of the government’s conditions states, “The widow who is eligible for financial assistance under the DSS scheme shall not avail themselves of other benefits of the Griha Aadhar scheme rolled out by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Goa.”
Meanwhile, by eliminating ineligible beneficiaries, the agency anticipates saving Rs 15-20 crore yearly.
