Tag: Social Welfare

National

Delhi Launches ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’: Girls to Receive ₹1 Lakh Support from Birth Till Graduation

allycaralgoa

New Delhi — In a significant move focused on empowering the girl child, the Delhi government has launched the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’, a financial assistance programme designed to provide long-term support to girls from birth until they complete their graduation.\

Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive structured financial benefits that can collectively amount to ₹1 lakh, aimed at encouraging education, improving social security, and supporting families in investing in their daughters’ futures. Officials say the initiative reflects a broader commitment to gender equality and inclusive development.

The programme is expected to provide phased financial assistance linked to key milestones such as school enrolment, continued education, and higher studies. By offering sustained support rather than a one-time grant, the scheme seeks to reduce dropout rates and promote higher education among girls.

Government representatives highlighted that the initiative also aligns with national and state-level goals to improve literacy rates and create opportunities for young women. Apart from financial incentives, awareness campaigns and outreach programmes may be conducted to ensure that eligible families are informed about the benefits.

Policy analysts view the scheme as part of a growing trend among Indian states to introduce targeted welfare programmes focused on empowering the girl child through education, financial stability, and social protection.

As the rollout begins, many are watching closely to see how the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’ impacts educational outcomes and long-term empowerment for girls in Delhi.

Social

Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme Promises Fairer Returns and Dignity for Informal Waste Collectors

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, January 2026 — As Goa’s waste burden continues to rise, a new state government–led Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) is set to reshape how value is extracted from discarded materials. The reform is expected to have its most significant impact on informal waste collectors, who have sustained Goa’s recycling economy for decades while receiving only a fraction of the returns it generates.


Goa produces approximately 766 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day—nearly 2.8 lakh tonnes annually. While urban waste collection has achieved near-universal coverage, gaps remain in treatment and recycling. Operating within this gap are informal waste collectors, who recover recyclables from homes, streets and dumping sites, often in unsafe conditions and for minimal compensation that rarely reflects their labour.

Currently, PET bottles fetch between ₹15 and ₹25 per kilogram or around 50 bottles—often translating to less than 50 paise per bottle. Glass bottles earn roughly ₹2 per unit, while multi-layered plastic packaging, commonly used for snacks and biscuits, has little to no resale value and is frequently left uncollected. National estimates indicate that such packaging constitutes 30 to 40 per cent of plastic waste, much of which ultimately ends up in landfills.

India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework was designed to address these disparities by shifting the cost of waste recovery to producers. In practice, however, EPR credits are largely traded between companies and recyclers, with limited financial benefit reaching those who physically collect the waste.

According to Dr Anthony de Sa, chairperson of the committee overseeing the implementation of the Goa DRS project under the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the scheme seeks to correct this long-standing imbalance. “DRS rewards responsible behaviour towards waste management, creates better income opportunities for the informal sector and addresses the peculiar waste management challenges of a tourism-driven region like Goa,” he said.

The Goa Deposit Refund System, notified in 2024, introduces a refundable deposit on select packaged products. The deposit is returned directly to whoever brings the item to an authorised collection point. Under the scheme, the standard refundable deposit is ₹5 per package, while alcohol sold in glass bottles carries a ₹10 deposit. Items priced between ₹5 and ₹20 attract a ₹2 deposit. Refunds are processed instantly.

For informal waste collectors, the shift could be transformative. Under the new model, collecting 50 PET bottles could earn up to ₹250—more than ten times current earnings. Glass bottles could fetch ₹10 per unit, a fivefold increase. For the first time, multi-layered plastic packaging could generate income, with collectors earning ₹200 for every 100 packets returned.

By directly linking waste recovery to financial return and enabling formal registration of collectors, the DRS aims not only to improve recycling rates but also to bring dignity, visibility and fair compensation to those at the foundation of Goa’s waste management ecosystem.

National

New Laws to Expand Maternity Benefits, Paid Leave for Fathers

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Rency Gomes, Team Allycaral National Desk

The government has approved sweeping legislative changes aimed at strengthening parental rights and workplace protections, Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste announced. The Cabinet has cleared amendments to the Maternity Protection Act and the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act, marking a significant shift in labour policy to reflect evolving family structures and caregiving responsibilities.

According to the minister, the amendments will broaden paid leave entitlements beyond mothers to include fathers and adoptive parents, promoting shared parenting and greater gender balance in caregiving roles. This expansion is seen as a major step towards more inclusive and family-friendly workplace policies.

The reforms also remove several long-standing restrictions on maternity benefits that have been criticised by workers’ unions and labour rights advocates for years. These changes aim to ensure that women are better protected during pregnancy and after childbirth, without facing unnecessary employment barriers.

Once enacted, the revised laws are expected to enhance job security, improve work-life balance, and provide stronger protections for parents during and after childbirth or adoption. The government says the measures reaffirm its commitment to progressive labour reforms that support families, promote equality in the workplace, and adapt employment laws to contemporary social realities.

National

Kerala Declares Victory Over Extreme Poverty: 64,006 Families Lifted Out of Poverty

Tanisha Cardozo

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally announced in the state assembly on November 1, coinciding with Kerala Formation Day, that the state has eradicated extreme poverty. The LDF government claims Kerala is the first state in India to achieve this milestone, a feat accomplished through the four-year-long Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project launched in 2021.

The program identified 64,006 families, comprising 1,03,099 individuals, as extremely poor through extensive ground-level surveys. Indicators such as access to food, health, housing, and livelihood were used to determine eligibility, ensuring assistance reached those in greatest need.

MB Rajesh, minister for local self-governments, explained that the project’s success stems from targeted support and a clear understanding of the needs of even the smallest population segment. A NITI Aayog study previously highlighted that Kerala already had the lowest poverty rate in India at 0.7%, making the eradication of extreme poverty a feasible, focused objective.

However, the announcement was met with protest from the Congress-led UDF opposition, who staged a walkout from the assembly and called the government’s claim “pure fraud.” Opposition leader V D Satheesan stated that the announcement was in contempt of House rules.

Responding to the protest, CM Vijayan remarked that the government only claims what it can implement, and this milestone reflects tangible results of the dedicated program. The Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project has now officially marked a historic achievement for Kerala, highlighting the state’s commitment to social welfare and inclusive development.

Finance

GCCI Applauds Historic GST Reforms Aimed at Economic Growth and Social Inclusion

Tanisha Cardozo

The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), under the leadership of its President Ms. Pratima Dhond, has expressed strong support for the sweeping Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms announced at the 56th GST Council Meeting. These reforms, hailed as one of the most progressive steps in India’s tax history, aim to simplify the indirect tax structure while promoting inclusive economic growth.

The introduction of a simplified two-slab GST structure — with rates of 5% and 18% — accompanied by a special 40% slab for luxury and sin goods, is expected to bring stability and clarity to the tax regime. GCCI believes this will lead to improved compliance, reduced litigation, and heightened investor and consumer confidence.

Among the most lauded aspects of the reform is the complete removal of GST on all individual life and health insurance policies — a move expected to increase affordability, boost insurance penetration, and strengthen the country’s financial safety net. GCCI considers this a landmark development towards financial inclusion and social security.

In the healthcare sector, the exemption of GST on 33 lifesaving drugs, and reduced rates on others including medical equipment, is expected to reduce the cost burden on citizens and enhance accessibility.

MSMEs, which form the backbone of India’s economy, stand to benefit significantly from reduced compliance burdens and lower tax costs. This boost to competitiveness could further energize employment and innovation in the sector.

The reforms also provide considerable relief to farmers and workers in labor-intensive industries. Reduced GST on tractors, farming equipment, textiles, leather goods, marble, and handicrafts is aimed at reviving rural and artisanal economies.

For households and the common man, daily-use products like soaps, hair oil, milk products, tea, coffee, namkeens, and bicycles now fall under the 5% or NIL tax bracket, improving affordability and encouraging consumption. This is expected to increase demand for discretionary and aspirational products including consumer durables, automobiles, and home appliances — potentially adding 20 to 50 basis points to GDP growth.

The operationalisation of the long-awaited GST Appellate Tribunal is expected to reduce legal disputes and foster ease of doing business. GCCI noted that the reforms address both industry concerns and public needs, maintaining a thoughtful balance. While the government may incur a revenue loss estimated between ₹0.7 to ₹1.8 trillion annually, this is offset by the continued application of the 40% GST rate on luxury and sin goods such as pan masala, aerated drinks, and tobacco.

GCCI President Ms. Dhond summed up the mood, stating, “This across-the-board reform is not only pro-business and pro-consumer, but also pro-society. By making insurance and healthcare affordable, while boosting consumption and competitiveness, the GST reforms will go a long way in strengthening India’s economic growth and socio-economic fabric of our nation.”

These reforms mark a turning point in India’s economic journey — blending fiscal prudence with inclusive growth.