Panaji: Accusing govt of making grand announcements without ensuring timely delivery of benefits, Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai has strongly criticised BJP-led govt over the delay in disbursing financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women who applied for the LPG cylinder subsidy.Sardesai said that out of the over three lakh applicants, only around one lakh applicants have received the subsidy, while others are still waiting for the benefits.“BJP in 2021 promised to give three cylinders free to every household per year. In the five years, they should have given 15 cylinders but it was only in Sept this year they announced that they would provide Rs 3000 per household for the gas cylinders,” said Sardesai.Questioning Pramod Sawant-led govt’s commitment to fulfilling its assurances to women, the Fatorda MLA asked how govt could hold events to celebrate the schemes when two-thirds of the applicants have not received the funds that were promised.He pointed out that BJP had promised free water supply to local households but the scheme was shut down after the 2022 assembly elections citing water wastage.“BJP has a habit of lying to people and taking votes. They lied in their manifesto, they lie after that too and we have seen examples of this,” Sardesai said.He said that BJP was more interested in publicity campaigns and grand announcements than ensuring that financial assistance reached the intended beneficiaries.Describing the delay as a betrayal of public trust, the GFP president said govt’s failure to ensure timely payments raised serious questions about its administrative efficiency and accountability.
