Goa Assembly Elections: TMC Promises Rs 5,000 Direct Cash Transfer For Women If Voted To Power

TMC would soon start distributing cards for the scheme, Moitra said, adding that these cards carrying unique identification numbers would be operational once the TMC forms a government in Goa.

Panaji: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday promised to roll out a direct cash transfer scheme for women in Goa if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Under this scheme titled Griha Laxmi, Rs 5,000 would be transferred to a woman of every household per month as guaranteed income support to counter inflation, TMC leader Mahua Moitra said.

TMC would soon start distributing cards for the scheme, Moitra said, adding that these cards carrying unique identification numbers would be operational once the TMC forms a government in Goa.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party has announced that it would contest all 40 seats in Goa.

"The women from 3.5 lakh households would be covered under the scheme as it will do away with maximum income ceiling that is mandated in the current Griha Aadhar scheme of BJP government in the state," Moitra, TMC's Goa in-charge, said.

Moitra further said that the current scheme of BJP government in Goa provides Rs 1,500 per month to women and it covers only 1.5 lakh households.

"The actual implementation of Griha Aadhar scheme requires Rs 270 crore annually, but Goa government has earmarked only Rs 140 crore because of which many people are not able to get the benefit," she said.

The projected expenditure for the scheme would be six to eight per cent of the total budget of Goa, she added.

"Latest studies have revealed that Covid has shrunk the country's economy which needs to be revived," Moitra said.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which will also contest the Goa elections, has promised to hike the remuneration to women in the coastal state under the state-sponsored scheme and also promised financial assistance to women not covered under it, if voted to power.

During his recent visit to Goa, AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal said if his party comes to power in Goa, the existing remuneration of Rs 1,500 provided to women under Griha Aadhar scheme would be increased to Rs 2,500, while women aged 18 and above, who are not covered under the scheme, would get Rs 1,000 per month.

On Friday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on a day-long visit here, promised 30% quota in jobs for women if her party came to power.

She claimed that the ruling BJP's ideology was "anti-women", and asked people to check the track-record of the new parties coming from outside the state.