TEAM HERALD GOA NEWS

PANJIM: The restructured Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) under which beneficiaries will get an increased monthly pension has been notified for implementation by Goa government.
Social Welfare Deputy Director Santan Fernandes confirmed to Herald that a notification was issued soon after the election code of conduct was lifted, this month. 
“The hike in allowance under the DSS scheme has been made effective from April 1. The beneficiaries will get the raise of the last month as well,” he informed. 
Under the revised scheme, registered senior citizens, widows and adults with disabilities will get pension of Rs 2000 from the existing Rs 1,000; children with disabilities will get Rs 2,500 from the existing Rs 1,500 and disabled persons with more than 90 percent disability will get Rs 3,500 pension from existing Rs 3,000. 
As many as 1,16,800 beneficiaries including widows, single women who have been deserted by their husbands, disabled persons, senior citizens and 16 economically weaker sections of the society, covered under the scheme get the monthly financial assistance. Currently, the government incurs expenditure of Rs 1.16 crore towards the scheme’s implementation. The amount will be doubled as the expense will go up to Rs 2.32 crore. 
The department is presently scrutinising 3000-odd applications from persons who have applied to avail the benefit.