Panaji – Government is yet to clear financial assistance of 330.78 crores of various beneficiaries of the schemes of Social Welfare Department, Women & Child Development and Department of Sports which is due for more than eight years. Will the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant make sure that the entire amount of 330.78 crores is disbursed before 15th September 2023, questioned Congress Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar.
Addressing a Press Conference at Congress House in the presence of General Secretary Pradip Naik and Siolim Block President Parvati Nagvenkar, Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar charged that the BJP Government has money to spend on Events for “Mission Total Commission” but has no Funds to pay the needy Goans.
As per the reply given to Starred LAQ 12A dated 18th July 2023 tabled by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, the Social Welfare Minister has stated that an Amount 35.73 crores is pending of various Social Welfare Beneficiaries which include an amount of 21.50 crores towards Covid-19 Relief to Marginalized and Unorganised Sector. An amount of 1.60 crores is not disbursed to 80 families of persons who died due to Covid. Further, the reply states that an amount of 1.60 crores is pending to be disbursed as financial assistance to persons with severe disabilities, pointed Amarnath Panjikar. In addition to this, an amount of 55 crores is pending of DSSY beneficiaries for last two months, he pointed.
The Government has not paid 3.06 crores for OBC Students towards Post Matric Scholarship, 4.37 Lakhs to SC Students for Pre Matric Scholarship, 1.06 crores to OBC Students for Pre Matric Scholarship. Government has also not paid 8.58 crores for SC, OBC and EWS towards Atal Asra Yojana.
In a reply given to Unstarred LAQ 120 dated 3rd August 2023, the Women & Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane has said that there are 15226 Beneficiaries of Laadli Laxmi Scheme who are awaiting disbursement of 152.26 crores. In the same reply the Minister has said that 134117 Beneficiaries of Griha Aadhar Scheme are awaiting disbursement of 40.23 crores for May & June 2023. We have to add July & August 2023 to it which will take the figure to 80.47 crores, informed Amarnath Panjikar.
There are 4283 Beneficiaries awaiting disbursement under Mamta Scheme of total 4.28 crores and 2055 beneficiaries are awaiting disbursement of 1.02 crores towards Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, stated Amarnath Panjikar.
In a reply to LAQ 5C dated 27th July 2023, Sports Minister Govind Gaude has admitted that an amount of 2 crores is pending towards Financial Assistance to Sportspersons and pending Prize money to Sportspersons. Unfortunately even the 19 Medal winners of Special Olympics held in Germany in June 2023 are not rewarded till date due to “Paucity of Funds”, claimed Amarnath Panjikar.
On one hand the Government increased the allowances and other facilities of the Members of Legislative Assembly putting additional burden on the Treasury which is already empty. The Government is spending multiple crores on Events. Sadly, the Government has no money to pay to the needy & deserving Sportspersons, stated Amarnath Panjikar.
