Support poured in even as Deputy Speaker Anant Shet assured to help the family.
When Herald highlighted the living conditions of Ashok Falkar and his family – the third generation that was staying without an electricity or water connection – people from across the state called up Herald’s office for details about the family.
They were shocked to read about the plight of the three children, who have to study with the help of kerosene lamps. People immediately went to Falkar’s house to know the real situation. Some of them, including Samresh Kanekar, Dr Gayatridas Gawthankar, Nikhil Dixit, assured to give them all the possible help and said they would meet the electricity department to sort out the issue.
A Margao-based non-government organisation (NGO) ‘DMDA’ also handed over solar lamps to the family on Saturday. On Sunday, Bicholim resident Santosh Sawant gave four solar lamps to the family so that the children could study properly.
The Rotary Club of Margao contacted Herald’s office on Saturday and said it was willing to donate a solar light and a board. The solar lamp will be installed on Tuesday. Dr Lennin De Costa said, “We already installed solar lights in other parts of Goa for families who did not have lights. We were deeply sorry that the family in Pilgao was staying without basic facilities. The Rotary Club of Margao will thus install a solar light for the family, and it will work even during the rains.
A group of Bicholim citizens have also decided to visit the Bicholim electricity department to question them over the issue.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Anant Shet said he had taken stock of the situation and would see to it that the Falkar family’s problem was solved. He said, “I spoke to the electricity department and also asked the additional collector to expedite the case so that Falkar can get electricity at the earliest.”
He continued, “We were following the case for long, but since there were some legal matters involved, we were unable to do much. But time and again we followed up the issue and will continue to do so till he gets the basic facilities. Falkar is a good person and we will see to it that he does not suffer because of anyone.”
