MLA Viresh Borkar highlights delays in Welfare Schemes, mismanagement, and heritage neglect

Goa Khabar : St. Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has raised serious concerns about delays and mismanagement in Goa’s welfare schemes. He revealed that under the Gagan Bharari Scheme alone, 46 applications from Dhangar students, 14 from SC students, 286 from OBC students, 289 post-matric ST/OBC applications, and 463 under Saral Vidya Sahay Yojana remain pending.

“A total of 4,375 applications under Viksit Bharat and Swayampurna Goa are still waiting. What are the Swayampurna Mitras doing? They must update Dayanand Social Security Scheme data through proper surveys,” he said.

He pointed to unutilised budgets for 2024–25, including ₹50 lakh for pre-matric SC scholarships, ₹104.08 lakh for SC scholarships, ₹97.83 lakh for senior citizens, ₹11,885.11 lakh for Freedom from Hunger, and ₹610 lakh for Ambedkar Bhavan, calling it shocking that these were dismissed as “chillar” by the Minister.

Borkar also questioned ROC penalties of ₹82.77 lakh due to non-filing of AOC-4 and MGT-7 forms and criticised the non-functioning Goa State Minority Finance & Development Corporation, where politically appointed directors hold posts without proper expertise.

He demanded action on poor-quality Ro-Ro ferries and flagged chronic under-utilisation of Archives Department funds, which have seen utilisation rates as low as 11% in 2021–22 despite a current allocation of ₹25.63 crore.

On heritage, Borkar urged immediate notification and protection of Rajbid, Gopakapattana Port, St. Anna’s Church, Moula–Curca caves, and King Saundekar’s Palace. “These historical sites are part of Goa’s identity. Neglecting them means losing our heritage,” he warned, calling on the government to act swiftly and responsibly.