Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Aug 27: In a move to ease the festive season, the Goa government has deferred the implementation of Aadhaar-based payment rules for welfare schemes by one month, ensuring that thousands of beneficiaries receive their entitlements during Ganesh Chaturthi without disruption.

The state had earlier fixed April 30 as the deadline for linking Aadhaar numbers with bank accounts and completing e-KYC, as mandated by the Centre. Beneficiaries who failed to comply risked losing financial aid. However, officials said the extension was granted to avoid hardships during the festival season.

“The Aadhaar-based payment has been deferred by a month since it is festival time and the government decided not to hamper the release of payments for those who did not comply with the rules. We have given one more month to complete the procedure,” Social Welfare Director Ajit Panchwadkar told The Goan.

Two major schemes – Griha Aadhaar and the Dayanand Social Security Scheme – together cover around 1.4 lakh beneficiaries in the state. Officials confirmed that funds for July have already been released, but admitted to delays caused by inter-bank mergers, verification surveys, and technical errors such as multiple bank accounts linked to one Aadhaar, change of address, or incorrect Aadhaar details.

They added that beneficiaries who miss out on payments due to such errors receive their arrears along with the following month’s installment. “The volume is enormous, both in terms of beneficiaries and amounts involved, so such cases cannot be rectified overnight. The officials are on the job,” a senior official explained.

Apart from welfare payouts, officials also confirmed that benefits under education and scholarship schemes have been disbursed ahead of the festival season, giving families some financial relief.