SUSTAINABILITY OF SOCIAL WELFARE STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 28.7.2020
The central government has suspended subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG) during the lockdown despite the fact that oil prices are not high. In fact, since most citizens are facing a tough economic situation during the pandemic, it was the duty of the government to assist the people by crediting subsidy in LPG to the bank account of the citizens. The central government are being particularly hard on those people who have lost their jobs and do not have resources on which to rely on. The government of Goa is also caught up in an economic quagmire because of the pandemic and a large portion of state's finances are supposed to be diverted to medical facilities for the Covid positive patients which has now reached proportions that are higher than the national averages, be it infection rate as well as death rate. How is the Goa government going to honour payments for its social welfare schemes such as the Griha Aadhaar, Dayanand Social Welfare scheme as well as Laadli Laximi? If the government has genuine financial status of all applicants, then it would be prudent for the government to credit to those that most need in accordance with their economic status. It would be unfair if the Goa government fails to credit payment to all those who have applied and have been alloted these schemes. I hope that the government does not suspend the blanket payment of those social welfare schemes as it would adversely affect those vulnerable sections, specially since the price of food articles have registered a minimum of 30-40% increase during the monsoon. The government cannot back track on its commitment to the people at this time when the going is tough. I have come across certain beneficiaries of particularly Griha Aadhar scheme their quota has not been credited in the bank in time or along other beneficiaries and there was a hue and cry their running here and there. Fulfilling this additional financial burden would be difficult but necessary. The festival season is also round the corner and people should not be left in the lurch. It is unlikely that Covid-19 will beat a hasty retreat. Stephen Dias Concerned Citizen 28.7.2020
