GAURESH SATTARKAR
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SANGUEM: Bhagirathi Gaonkar from Carla, Sanguem, received her 16 months pending pension after O Heraldo and Herald TV highlighted her plight, following which South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes took cognizance of her condition and intervened. Her joy was short lived since, three days after she received her 16 months pending pension, amounting to Rs 32,000, her aged husband died.
Now, the good news is that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has disbursed a fund of Rs 1 lakh to the South Goa Collectorate, which has not yet been credited to her account. Presently, Bhagirathi whose house is in a dangerous condition lives with caretaker Asmita Gaonkar.
Bhagirathi who is just 65 but is bent with age and as pointed out in our earlier reports she find it extremely difficult to walk and even climb up and down the threshold of her house. For nearly a year, post Covid, Bhagirathi could not go to the bank since she found it difficult to sit on a motorcycle and go to the bank to collect her pension. Part of the reason was the bad condition of the roads. Finally after the intervention of MP Captain Viriato, the bank officials delivered the pension to her house.
Additionally, cleaning work of the Carla’s roads too has begun, prompted by O Heraldo and Herald TV coverage, highlighting the poor condition of the roads.
Caretaker Asmita Gaonkar described the dire conditions in which Bhagirathi and her husband were living, “Because Bhagirathi was not getting any pension, they hardly had anything to eat. Now the husband has died and she is living with me. I am providing food for her now. South Goa MP and Herald TV reporter helped her and she got her pension of Rs 32,000. I feel extremely happy that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for Bhagirathi to repair her house.”
Pradeep Velip, Panchayat Member of Carla Village Panchayat said, “About three months ago O Heraldo and Herald TV had featured a report about Bhagirathi Gaonkar, after which the MP Capt Viriato intervened and gave her the pension. The deputy collector and other officials have put her case before the Chief Minister and CM has assisted her with Rs 1 lakh. I thank the CM and appeal to him and Herald TV so that they continue to help others like Bhagirathi, who are badly in need of help.”
Bhagirathi received this assistance, showcasing the effectiveness of local officials and the government in addressing community concerns. This development also demonstrates the power of media and proactive governance in resolving local issues.
