Ponda: Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Wednesday said the state government will increase financial assistance under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 before the next assembly polls.
Phal Dessai also assured beneficiaries that the DSSS payments would soon be regularised and deposited on a fixed date each month, similar to a salary. Additionally, new senior citizen applications would be approved within a week.
Phal Dessai made these announcements at a felicitation programme for ‘Best Senior Citizen 2025’, organised by the Social Welfare Department at Kala Mandir, Ponda.
He highlighted two initiatives: Palliative care, which provides food, shelter and medical facilities through grants to registered organisations and home-based services via community health officers; and the Ummid Centre Scheme, which funds NGOs, panchayats and municipalities to run day care centres offering health check-ups, walking aids and social activities.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik felicitated 14 senior citizens for their contributions. Department Director Deepak Desai and other dignitaries were also present.
The awardees included P Shaliyo (Porvorim), Hemant Naik (Curtorim), Anand Naik, Vamanrao Desai (Valpoi), Ramdas Velingkar alias Khandeparkar (Mardol), Dayanand Naik (Sankhali), Nandkishor Fal Desai (Canacona), Antonio De Souza, Amina Nurany (Margao), Naresh Shigaonkar (Collem), Chandrakant Gaonkar (Quepem), Champawati Mahale (Pernem) and Chandrakant Korgaonkar (Vasco).
