Scheme to Grant Monthly Financial Assistance to the Persons Engaged in Traditional Occupations/Businesses including Motorcycle Pilots

What is the traditional occupations monthly assistance scheme?

The Scheme to Grant Monthly Financial Assistance to the Persons Engaged in Traditional Occupations/Businesses including Motorcycle Pilots is a social security scheme of the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa. It was notified by Notification No. 82-6-07-08-SDB/Part-II and published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 38, dated 20 December 2012.

The preamble to the scheme is unusually explicit about why it exists. The Government of Goa records that traditional occupations still fulfil the needs of society and cater to individual tastes even in an industrialised and globalised economy; that there is a pressing need to conserve the traditional knowledge and skills associated with them; and that these occupations have been the sources of livelihood of the weaker sections, particularly the downtrodden and tribal people in Goa. The stated objective is social security and financial support for healthy living to people who earn their livelihood, and continue to do so today, through traditional occupations and businesses including motorcycle pilots.

The scheme absorbed two earlier programmes. Clause 10 provides that from the date of notification, the existing scheme "Monthly pension to Motorcycle pilots" stands superseded and amalgamated into this scheme, and that the scheme "Goyche Diaz" also stands superseded.

How much is paid, and how?

• Rs 1,000 per month; Rupees one thousand only: is provided by the Government to each eligible person.
• Over a year that comes to Rs 12,000.
• The assistance is released into the beneficiary's savings bank account through the Electronic Clearance System (ECS) under clause 6. There is no cash disbursement and no cheque.

Clause 7(1) records an important limitation: the grant of financial assistance under the scheme shall not be claimed as a matter of right. Clause 7(4) reserves the Government's right to stop, cancel or recover the assistance if it is availed by fraudulent means or if the beneficiary is engaged in any unlawful activity.

Which occupations qualify?

Schedule A to the notification lists 36 traditional occupations and businesses of Goa. The application form asks you to name the activity and to quote its serial number from Schedule A, so identify yours before you fill the form.

1. Bangle and glass work (Kankankars)
2. Oil extraction (Ghanekar)
3. Bead and stone necklaces (Piddukkars, Vanjaris)
4. Local pyrotechnicians and fireworks specialists (Foger, Fogeri)
5. Coconut pluckers (Paddeli)
6. Plantation workers (Bhageli)
7. Lime makers (Chunekar)
8. Tinners (Kalaikars)
9. Toy makers and pot makers (Kumbhar)
10. Canoe builders (Vodekar, Vode Karapi)
11. Subsistence floriculture (Fulkars)
12. Bamboocraft and canecraft
13. Ironsmiths (Lohar, Mest)
14. Coconut toddy tappers (Render)
15. Beam makers (Vanshekar)
16. Coconut husk rope makers (Rajukars)
17. Matted coconut leaves makers (Mollankars)
18. Carpentry (Chari, Suttar, Mestri, Panchal)
19. Pottery (Kumbhar, Shet, Shetkar)
20. Coppersmiths: copper, bronze and brass work (Kansar, Shinde, Rende)
21. Broom makers (Sanni, Khuttaro Karpi)
22. Salt producers (Mithkar, Agarkar)
23. Barber (Mhalo)
24. Puffed rice makers (Chirmulyo, Fov Karpi, Kandpi)
25. Cobblers; shoe making and repairing
26. Idol makers and sculptors (Murtikar)
27. Laundry work (Madval)
28. Producers of vinegar, local pickles and papads
29. Local sweet makers (Khajekars)
30. Local gram sellers (Chanekar)
31. Local bakers and confectioners (Poders)
32. Tailors, dress and costume makers, costume designers
33. Motorcycle pilot
34. Choriskar (sausage makers)
35. Kirvant
36. Ramponkar, Pagi, Gabit

The notification defines a "Motorcycle Pilot" as a person engaged in driving a motorcycle taxi, solely dependent on that trade for a livelihood, holding a valid licence to drive such a two-wheeler and a valid badge to drive a motorcycle (yellow and black taxi) issued by the Transport Department of the State Government.

Who is eligible for this scheme, and who is not?

You can apply if:

• You are of Goan Origin; defined in the notification as a person born in Goa, or whose either parent or grandparent was resident in or born in Goa, and who is a resident of Goa for at least 15 years.
• Your family income from all sources does not exceed Rs 1,50,000 per annum.
• You are not less than 50 years of age.
• You have been engaged in the traditional occupation, business or motorcycle pilot activity for at least 10 years before applying.
• You are still continuing that occupation or activity.
• You can produce either a valid registration certificate for the traditional business activity, or an affidavit sworn before an Executive Magistrate or Notary Public in the Annexure-II format.

You are not eligible if:

• You already receive financial assistance under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, the Kala Sanman Scheme, or any other similar government scheme where a monthly allowance is paid in any name or form. Clause 7(2) excludes such beneficiaries.
• You are below 50 years of age.
• Your family income exceeds Rs 1,50,000 a year.
• You have fewer than 10 years in the occupation, or you have stopped practising it.
• You are not of Goan origin as defined in the scheme.

There is one deliberate carve-out: beneficiaries availing financial assistance under the Griha Adhar Scheme are entitled to avail benefits under this scheme too, subject to fulfilling all the other eligibility conditions.

A note on the medical certificate. The main text of the notification, at clause 4(10), asks for a certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner stating that the applicant is medically fit to carry out the traditional occupation. The document checklist printed at the end of Annexure-I is worded the opposite way, and the eligibility clause 3(5) also uses the word "unfit". This is an inconsistency in the published notification itself. Ask your Block Development Officer which wording the office currently accepts before you get the certificate written, because a certificate in the wrong form means a second trip to the doctor.

How to apply for the monthly assistance

1. Identify your occupation in Schedule A. Note its serial number, the application form asks you to quote it.
2. Collect the prescribed application form (Annexure-I). It is addressed to the Director of Social Welfare through the Block Development Officer of your taluka. Take a printout or collect it from the BDO's office.
3. Fill in every field. The form asks for your residential address with house number, ward, village or town, constituency and taluka; date of birth and age; whether you belong to SC, ST, OBC, Minority or General; ration card number; Aadhaar number; contact number; details of every family member as per the ration card with age, relation, occupation and monthly income; total family income from all sources; the activity you are engaged in with its Schedule A serial number; and the period for which you have been engaged in it, with proof enclosed.
4. Fill the motorcycle pilot block if it applies to you. Driving licence number, issuing authority, date of issue, vehicle number, badge number and the stand allotted by the competent authority, plus the name, address and membership registration number of your motorcycle taxi association if you belong to one.
5. Declare any loans and any other social security assistance. The form asks for both, and answering the second question incorrectly is a straightforward route to cancellation later.
6. Give your bank details. Name of the bank, branch, account number and MICR code. Payment is by ECS, so these must be exact.
7. Attach all the documents listed in the documents section above, including the 15-year residence certificate from the Mamlatdar, the income certificate, birth proof, Aadhaar, ration card, occupation proof or affidavit, bank passbook copy and the medical certificate.
8. Sign the declaration and submit the form to the Block Development Officer of your taluka. The declaration warns that if any information is found false or incorrect, the Government will be forced to take legal action.

What happens after I submit the form?

The notification sets out a three-stage process.

Stage 1 to Verification by the BDO. The concerned Block Development Officer, on receipt of the application, verifies the applicant's details through the Field Assistant attached to the BDO's office or any other employee under the BDO's control. Part II of Annexure-I is the BDO's own certification block, in which the verifying official and the BDO both sign and seal that the information has been verified and that the case is recommended for sanction.

Stage 2 to Forwarding to the Director. After verification, the BDO forwards the eligible applications to the Director of Social Welfare.

Stage 3 — The Sanctioning Committee. The Director of Social Welfare places the applications received from the BDOs before the Sanctioning Committee after detailed scrutiny. The Committee consists of:

• the Minister for Social Welfare, Chairperson
• an expert person having knowledge of traditional occupations and businesses, appointed by the Government; Member
• the Director of Social Welfare: Member Secretary

Disbursement. Once sanctioned, the assistance is released into the beneficiary's savings bank account monthly through ECS.

What must I do every year to keep the payment running?

This is the condition beneficiaries most often overlook. Clause 7(3) requires every beneficiary to submit, in the month of April every year:

1. a self certificate stating that he or she is still engaged in the traditional occupation, business or motorcycle pilot activity; and
2. an "Alive Certificate".

The clause is explicit that failing to do so means the financial assistance shall be discontinued. Mark April in your calendar and file both documents with your BDO's office.

What are the common reasons an application is rejected?

• Already drawing a monthly allowance under Dayanand Social Security Scheme, Kala Sanman Scheme or a similar scheme. Griha Adhar is the only permitted overlap.
• Family income above Rs 1,50,000 on the income certificate.
• Age below 50 on the birth certificate.
• Fewer than 10 years in the occupation, or having given it up.
• No occupation proof and no affidavit. One or the other is essential.
• A residence certificate short of 15 years, which fails the Goan Origin definition.
• A medical certificate in the wrong wording. Confirm with the BDO first, given the inconsistency in the notification.
• Bank details that do not match, which stalls the ECS credit even after sanction.
• Missing the April self certificate and Alive Certificate, which stops an already-running payment.

Where do I raise a grievance about this scheme?

Start with the Block Development Officer of your taluka, since the application and the annual certificates both pass through that office. The next step is the Director of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, who monitors the implementation of the scheme through the officer dealing with it at State Headquarters under clause 8.

Clause 8(2) provides a formal escalation for difficulties in implementation. A three-member committee clarifies the matter and issues suitable directions:

• Secretary (Social Welfare): Chairperson
• Joint Secretary (Finance Expenditure); Member
• Director of Industries; Member
• Director of Social Welfare, Member Secretary

Clause 11 also gives the Government power to relax or amend any provision of the scheme. The Directorate of Social Welfare publishes its state schemes at socialwelfare.goa.gov.in.

A note on the scheme's currency

Clause 1(2) of the notification provides that the scheme comes into force from the date of notification in the Official Gazette and shall remain in force for a period of five years. The notification is dated 13 December 2012 and was published on 20 December 2012. The scheme continues to be listed on the national myScheme portal as a Goa scheme, which indicates continuation beyond that initial term, but the extension order itself is not published on the Directorate's public pages. Confirm the current status with your Block Development Officer before preparing the documents.

Key facts to remember

• The scheme is run by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa.
• Rs 1,000 per month is paid by ECS into the beneficiary's savings account.
• Minimum age 50; minimum 10 years in the occupation; must still be practising.
• Family income must not exceed Rs 1,50,000 per annum.
• Applicants must be of Goan origin, with 15 years residence in Goa.
• Schedule A lists 36 qualifying traditional occupations, with motorcycle pilot at number 33.
• Applications go to the Director of Social Welfare through the taluka BDO.
• Dayanand Social Security Scheme and Kala Sanman Scheme beneficiaries are excluded; Griha Adhar beneficiaries are allowed.
• A self certificate and an Alive Certificate must be filed every April.

How to check your application status

This scheme has no online tracking portal and no application reference number system published in the notification, so status checking is entirely offline and depends on which of the three stages your file is sitting at.

1. First point of contact: the Block Development Officer of your taluka. Your form was submitted there, and it stays there through the verification step carried out by the BDO's Field Assistant. Visit or call the BDO's office and ask specifically whether your application has been verified and forwarded to the Director of Social Welfare, since this is the step most files wait at the longest.
2. Ask for the date it was forwarded. Once the BDO certifies Part II of Annexure-I and forwards your file, it moves out of the taluka office and into the Director of Social Welfare's records. Knowing the forwarding date gives you a reference point for your follow-up call to the Directorate.
3. Second point of contact: the Director of Social Welfare's office, Government of Goa. After the BDO forwards a batch of eligible applications, the Directorate lists them for scrutiny before the Sanctioning Committee, chaired by the Minister for Social Welfare. There is no published timeline for how often this Committee meets, so ask the Directorate office directly whether your application has been listed for the Committee's consideration.
4. Check the Directorate's scheme page for any updates. The Directorate of Social Welfare publishes its state schemes at socialwelfare.goa.gov.in; some notices about committee sittings or documentation requirements are posted there, though it is not a per-applicant tracking system.
5. Once sanctioned, confirm your bank account credit rather than waiting for a letter. Payment is released by ECS directly into the savings bank account you listed on the form, so the clearest sign of sanction is the first Rs 1,000 credit. If it does not appear after you have confirmed sanction, recheck the bank name, branch, account number and MICR code you originally submitted, since a mismatch anywhere in these stalls the ECS transfer even after the Committee has approved the case.
6. If you hear nothing for an extended period, escalate in writing. Clause 8(2) of the notification sets up a three-member committee, Secretary (Social Welfare) as Chairperson, Joint Secretary (Finance Expenditure) and Director of Industries as Members, and the Director of Social Welfare as Member Secretary, to resolve difficulties in implementing the scheme. A written representation through your BDO, addressed to the Director of Social Welfare, is the route to get a stalled file examined by this committee.
7. Keep your acknowledgment copy safe. Since there is no digital receipt or tracking ID, the dated acknowledgment you should ask for when you submit the form at the BDO's office is your only proof of the submission date if you need to raise a delay later.