Team Herald
CANACONA: A British expat living in Canacona since last 15 years has come to the rescue of 150 stranded migrant labourers. Janie Oconnor has been keeping herself busy since the lockdown began with her outreach programme for the migrant labourers stranded in the municipal areas of Canacona Taluka with no work and no food.
She has been distributing groceries and essential food items since the lockdown began over a month ago; she with her able team has also shouldered the responsibility of feeding more than 150 stray dogs at all the beaches in Canacona taluka.
Oconnor, who otherwise runs a registered Animal Shelter in Canacona, is doubling up to supply essential commodities to the needy apart from her regular ordeal of rescue and sheltering of all types of animals.
Speaking to Herald, Oconnor informed that it all started by a phone call from a friend from Margao, who called to enquire whether she would be interested to distribute essential items to the stranded labourers in Canacona.
“I have been doing charity work since my adulthood and the call didn’t surprise me and before I could think what and how to do it I said yes,” said Oconnor.
“With financial help from all quarters, initially we started with rice, dal, eggs, flour, oil and potatoes but with Budget going through the roof and lot of other organisations including the local government chipping in we have settled for rice and dal,” Oconnor informed.
Adding further, Oconnor said that she with the help of her team have been distributing to about 150 stranded migrant labourers since last more than a month. It is also a common site on the beaches of Canacona to see stray dogs mingling with Western tourists as they cuddle and feed them.
After the lockdown was clamped since March, the helpless stray dogs were starving and looking at their plight, Oconnor took upon herself to feed them also.
“We are feeding about 150 stray dogs, who have made the beaches in Canacona their home.” “Our van goes with food to the beaches at Galgibaga, Talpona, Rajbagh, Patnem, Colomb and Palolem regularly,” Oconnor informed.
She expressed her desire to thank especially the Canacona police team for extending all the cooperation and each one who like her have helped those in dire straits and to those who informed her about the plight of the stranded labourers as well as the stray dogs in Canacona.
Otherwise, Oconnor said, “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a huge task.”
