Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government is considering increasing the annual income ceiling for the Griha Aadhar scheme to ₹8 lakh, a move that could make more women eligible for financial assistance.
Women and Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane gave the assurance on Monday while responding to concerns raised by women who said the existing eligibility conditions had prevented them from accessing the scheme.
During the interaction, a woman questioned the income-based restrictions, pointing out that she was ineligible despite other women from business families receiving financial assistance. She also recalled that the scheme, introduced by former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, initially had no income ceiling.
The subsequent introduction of an income limit, she said, had left many women outside the scheme’s coverage.
Responding to the concerns, Rane said the government was considering an increase in the annual income limit to ₹8 lakh to extend the benefits to a wider section of women.
The proposal, however, has prompted a broader demand for removing the income restriction altogether. Several women argued that assistance under Griha Aadhar should be available universally, regardless of their husbands’ earnings, stating that such support could help strengthen women’s financial independence.
The minister also addressed difficulties faced by some women from the Muslim community in meeting the scheme’s documentation requirements. He assured them that the government would examine the possibility of relaxing the rules.
The issue was highlighted by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, who said some Muslim women were unable to access the benefits because they did not possess birth certificates.
