Latest news with #DayanandSocialSecurityScheme
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No hold-up in paying benefits, says Phal Dessai
Porvorim: Despite legislators across party lines expressing concern over the delayed disbursal of benefits under the social welfare scheme, social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai said that there is no hold-up in payments to beneficiaries. 'We have zero pendency under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme. The pendency does not go beyond 20 days,' he said. Dessai said that 85% of the social welfare department's budget is spent on the DSSS. He said that he has spoken to the chief minister and the finance department to determine if beneficiaries can get the money directly into their bank accounts on a fixed day. 'Enhancement of benefits under the senior citizen scheme is under consideration. We are trying to provide direct benefit transfers to senior citizens, disabled persons, women, and widows,' Dessai said. He also said that the department has sought an additional Rs 20 crore in the supplementary budget for the Atal Asra scheme because the funds for this scheme have been exhausted. Meanwhile, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that a request for an increase in the monthly payment for persons with disabilities is under consideration.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
14k bogus DSSS claimants out, Rs 50cr recovered: Min
Panaji: The directorate of social welfare has stopped disbursing the monthly Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) payout to around 14,000 'bogus' beneficiaries since the directorate began a survey in Oct 2024, said social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai. The directorate stopped the disbursal of funds to these beneficiaries after finding them dead, untraceable at their last address, availing of two schemes, availing of the scheme when their spouse is also benefiting from it, or other disqualifying parameters. As and when the non-traceable beneficiaries apply with their correct address, the directorate will reconsider their applications. Phal Dessai said the directorate has recovered Rs 50 crore to date since June 2023. State govt adds 200-250 new beneficiaries every month under the DSSS scheme, its most popular initiative. The directorate recently decided to upload beneficiary details of all its schemes on its website. 'The intention was to ensure transparency and accountability of administration,' social welfare director Ajit Panchwadkar said. The transparency, he said, will also help weed out ineligible beneficiaries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He said if ineligible beneficiaries are brought to the notice of the directorate, it can reconsider the cases and scrap the benefit. 'This will deter ineligible persons from taking benefit of the scheme and make way for deserving people,' Panchwadkar said. The details of the beneficiaries covered by the directorate's schemes after April 1 this year are being uploaded on the website. Uploading data prior to that would be too voluminous, Panchwadkar said. The directorate's massive survey to weed out ineligible beneficiaries and open up slots began with DSSS beneficiaries in Oct last year and is still ongoing. It is likely to continue till Dec. The directorate has completed two phases of the survey, with four more phases remaining.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Six Vanarmare tribals to get welfare benefits for first time
Panaji: For the first time, members of the Vanarmare tribal community of Nirankal will receive regular financial assistance under a govt welfare scheme. Govt has sanctioned the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) for six tribals from the community, comprising three senior citizens aged 65 to 67 years, and three persons with disabilities aged 45, 48, and 54 years. Last month, the social welfare department went out to meet the community and observed that none of them were availing themselves of any social welfare schemes. 'They will begin receiving Rs 2,000 each under the scheme from July, which will be credited to them in Aug,' director of social welfare Ajit Panchwadlar told TOI . 'Rs 2,000 is a huge amount for them considering their present living conditions. This money will help take care of their needs, including medication, and earn them respect in their families. Taking this money back home will turn them into an important member of their families,' he said. 'This is not a one-time gift. This is the first time the govt has reached out to them to extend a govt welfare scheme,' Panchwadkar said. The govt is also looking at proper housing for them and is considering rehabilitating them.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Goa govt recovers Rs 39 crore from ineligible social security scheme beneficiaries
Panaji: The directorate of social welfare that has been weeding out ineligible Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) beneficiaries for over a year has deleted the names of 14,000 beneficiaries, including 2,000 of those who are running full-fledged businesses, and has recovered Rs 39 crore from them. 'The money was being deposited in beneficiaries' accounts even after their death. Some passed away in 2011 and 2014, yet the monthly DSSS money was being credited to their accounts,' director of social welfare Ajit Panchwadkar told TOI. 'It was a huge exercise to first identify those who had died and then to write to banks to return the money,' he said. Govt sent out notices to banks in around 5,000 cases for the recovery of money. The directorate is continuously working to plug loopholes and to clean up the beneficiary list of the scheme that warrants close monitoring because it is a recurring scheme. It began with beneficiaries in the 80+ age category and recently covered the 75-80 age category. DSSS beneficiaries have been brought down to 1.3 lakh, and the monthly burden on the exchequer reduced from Rs 29 crore to Rs 25 crore. Last year, govt capped the number of beneficiaries at 1.4 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Highest Earning College Majors—2025 Edition Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Undo 'We have been relieved of a liability of Rs 3 crore per month and have made space for 10,000 new, deserving beneficiaries,' Panchwadkar said. Govt, at the same time, also began disbursing financial aid under the amended scheme with increased pension for widows. The directorate, he said, is in the process of integrating its data with the records of births and deaths so that the department can be updated in the case of the death of a beneficiary. Govt has also started giving instructions to banks not to allow withdrawals if the scheme amount is left untouched for six months. 'We have asked banks to ask beneficiaries to submit a letter with genuine reasons as to why the money has not been withdrawn,' Panchwadkar said. 'Otherwise, we will presume the person is financially sound and no longer requires financial assistance. This is assuming there was no medical emergency in the family.'
