Panaji: The Goa government on Wednesday announced amendments to its social welfare scheme, making widows with children under the age of 21 eligible to receive a monthly assistance of Rs 4,000.
Addressing a press conference in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, State social welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said that the scheme has been amended to help the widows who are having children of less than 21 years of age.
Phal Dessai said that till now, the eligible candidate (widow) had to apply with social welfare department for Grih Adhar pension of Rs 1,500 per month and another application with State Women and Child Welfare Department for monthly pension of Rs 2,500 as widow.
The Minister said that both the schemes are now brought under Social Welfare Department. “The eligible widow will be paid Rs 4,000 per month,” he said adding that the eligible person need not go to Women and Child Welfare Department (WCD) to cancel her name.
The social welfare department will write to WCD asking them to delete the names from their register, he said.
