PANJIM: Call this shocking apathy on the part of society if you wish. A Goan senior citizen Richard was staying for almost two years with all his belongings including a bed and mattress at this Chinchinim bus stop. Chinchinim-Deussua sarpanch and panchayat members got together and with the help of Cuncolim Police and Street Providence shifted him to the Quepem shelter home.
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Chinchinim-Deussua panchayat member Wilfred Rodrigues said that when Richard started feeling unwell a few days back, he approached the Village Panchayat, which in turn approached Street Providence founder Donald Fernandes.
Cuncolim PI Tukaram Chavan was contacted and together with the panchayat members the man was admitted to the District Hospital, Margao for stability and care. He was later admitted to Street Providence shelter home due to the initiative of the Sarpanch and panchayat members.
According to Street Providence founder Donald Fernandes, recommendations were obtained from Cuncolim PI, Velim MLA, Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch and the parish priest to avoid allegations of kidnappings. Paper work is very important in such cases and even police are reluctant since they have to do the paperwork, he said. The letters and recommendations are necessary. He said adding, “Well tomorrow if some relative pops up and files a missing complaint or kidnapping case saying you have confined my brother or a relative in your NGO then what? While on the streets the family is not bothered.”
Fernandes said that they also obtained a letter from the Chinchinim parish priest, which is also essential in case the shelterless person dies. He said, “This man is Catholic and in the future, funeral can be performed in the church. We had issues in the past for burial as it was refused as no one knew the person in particular.”
Fernandes further said that the letters from the local MLA and the sarpanch are required as these elected representatives need to know where their voter/s are cared for and how they can play their part in the future in case of any medical issues arising as the NGO at times cannot foot all the bills of the hospitals. Similarly, the police letter is required because tomorrow any accusation like kidnapping, human rights violation, etc, can be made against the shelter home.
“Today people are ungrateful to shelter homes service towards their own relatives dumped on streets and bus stops. We as a society are heading towards difficult times regarding the homeless and Persons with Disabilities on the streets and no government department in the State is having any clue, idea or plan to address this increasing trend of homeless Goans on the streets,” Fernandes added.
“To top it all there are no government designated shelter homes and small NGOs like Street Providence are doing the work of the Social Welfare & Women and Child Department in providing shelter and care for free,” he said.
“It’s a good sign and I feel happy that the Chinchinim sarpanch and panchayat members literally got behind me to get help to this Goan homeless man and I made them follow the procedure from their end so that they understand the difficulties involved in rehabilitating such homeless Goan people. Today we are running a losing battle against homeless people on the streets of Goa,” he lamented.
