Overdependence on politicians for availing scheme must stop: study

Abdul Wahab Khan | NT

 

PANAJI

Recommending that the excessive control of the Laadli Laxmi scheme of the government by local MLAs should be stopped, a research report on awareness, perceived difficulties and economic impact of the Laadli Laxmi scheme in South Goa has said that local MLAs are using the grant under the scheme to maintain their grip over their vote bank.

The research carried out by a Margao-based college says that there is an excessive dependence on local MLAs for submitting the duly filled forms related to the scheme. The study has suggested that facilitation should be made available directly through colleges, higher secondary schools and panchayats.

The report further states that majority of the respondents (63) have submitted their applications for the scheme to their MLA, followed by submission of the applications to mamlatdar (16), women and child development office (13) and social welfare department (5). The report has also recommended the release of scheme money before marriage so as to avoid any dowry-related harassment by in-laws. Interestingly, the research shows that 20 per cent of the respondents have suffered mental agony due to the financial assistance released after marriage.

The research was carried out in December last year by third year B Com students of VVM’s Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics under the mentorship of

associate professor B P Sarath Chandran. The research was carried out using methods such as interviews and questionnaires on 100 Laadli Laxmi scheme (LLS) applicants from Salcete, Mormugao, Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora talukas. Most of the respondents were in the age group of 20-25 and the least were from the 35-40 age group.

The purpose of the study was to understand the economic impact of the Laadli Laxmi scheme on households, the level of awareness about the scheme amongst the targeted people and the difficulties faced by the beneficiaries in availing benefit of the scheme.

“The overdependence on the local MLA for the scheme has to be stopped through policy changes. Though the research has found the scheme has improved the status of girl child in the family, there is a lot of misunderstanding with the in-laws over the amount released after the marriage,” said B P Sarath Chandran, who authored the study.

According to the report, the respondents feel that the scheme can be improved if some of the difficulties such as inadequate amount of money, lengthy procedures, time-consuming process, inability to receive financial support before marriage, overdependence on the local MLA for the scheme and conflict with in-laws over utilisation of the funds are addressed. The report also states that majority of the respondents’ family members have not applied for the scheme, as they have either not crossed the age of 18 or are above 40 years of age and due to complicated procedures the other members are not willing to apply for the scheme.

According to the report, 23 per cent of the beneficiaries said that the procedures involved in availing the benefit of the scheme were difficult while 49 per cent said the procedure was ‘OK.’ Around 25 per cent of the beneficiaries felt the procedure was “easy” and only 3 per cent of them felt it was “very easy.”

It has been revealed from the survey that 30 per cent of the respondents said it took 4-6 months to process the application, while 20 per cent said it took between 0 and 4 months. The processing of applications in most cases is dilatory, as the time taken varies between 4 and 6 months and this indicates the lack of preparedness and the lack of personnel for the implementation of the scheme.