Porvorim: CM Pramod Sawant took a cue from BJP’s playbook in Maharashtra and Bihar, where it tasted electoral wins, and announced hikes in doles for women in Goa.He announced an increase in the allowance under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS), for which a provision of Rs 479 crore has been made. Introduced 25 years ago, this scheme provides senior citizens, widows, and adults and children with disabilities a monthly allowance between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500.Sawant also declared that the monthly allowance under the Griha Aadhar scheme will be hiked, and a budget of Rs 330 crore has been allocated for this purpose. The scheme was introduced in 2012, targeting home-makers from middle, lower-middle, and poor sections of society to maintain a reasonable standard of living for their families.The process of issuing senior citizens’ identity cards will be digitised from this year on, Sawant said. He also allocated Rs 1 crore for the provision of financial assistance to palliative care centres and promised to set up more homes for the elderly in different talukas. Govt will even provide financial assistance to organise addiction-free programmes for citizens and organisations, he said.The CM also announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh under the Gomanta Bhushan Award scheme for extraordinary contributions by Goans in social work, medicine, or any other field in the state.
