Porvorim: The Comptroller Auditor General Report 2017 has exposed Goa government’s deficiencies in identification of beneficiaries under its three social welfare schemes due to which the benefit was given to the ineligible persons.
CAG Report was tabled today during ongoing Session of Goa Legislative Assembly which has pointed out wrongful inclusion of beneficiaries in these schemes resulting in the loses to the State exchequer.
The report has analysed implementation of Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) providing financial assistance to senior citizens and widows, Grih Aadhar Scheme catering to unemployed housewives and Laadli Laxmi Scheme which provides one time financial benefit to girl child for marriage, starting of a business or education after she attains age of 18.
“By the end of March 2017, 3.36 lakh beneficiaries have been benefitted under the three schemes and they were granted financial assistance of Rs 2,590 crore during the year 2012-17,” the CAG report reads.
The CAG has said that a performance audit of implementation of these three schemes for the period of 2012-17 revealed deficiencies in identification of beneficiaries due to inadequate scrutiny of applications by the implementing departments, flaws in the application software system developed for operation and management of the schemes and failure to conduct periodical survey of target beneficiaries.
“Financial assistance under DSSS and Griha Aadhar scheme was granted to beneficiaries who did not meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of age and income,” the CAG has castigated government in its report.
“Benefits were also granted to the applicants who simultenously availed of assistance under other social welfare schemes as well as to those availing of assistance more than once under the same scheme,” it mentioned.
The CAG has also noticed that there were instances of benefits being granted to doubtful beneficiaries.
“Though the annual family income was the vital criterion for identification of beneficiaries under DSSS and Griha Aadhar scheme, the process of verification of income by the implementing departments was weak, leading to wrongful inclusion of beneficiaries,” the report adds.
