Team Herald
PANJIM: Social Welfare Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction that not a single NGO has approached the department to take up the Central government’s scheme for setting up Alzheimer Homes in the State.
Speaking to Herald, Madkaikar said, “Till now no NGO from Goa has approached the department for taking benefit of the scheme and this is because there are no dedicated NGOs working in the State. We are ready to provide financial help to NGOs working with the senior citizens, if they want to take care of the aged who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.”
He added, “Alzheimer Homes is a Central scheme. In other states NGOs take the initiative but in Goa there are a lot of schemes but NGOs that work in the social field are few and due to this we cannot implement these schemes. I appeal to the NGOs to come forward and take the scheme forward. If any NGO applies for this scheme it would be sanctioned within 15 days.”
With this scheme NGOs can themselves find a place for these homes, they can get staff, the nurses required or grants can also be given to an NGO to construct such a home.
“There is not a single Alzheimer Home in Goa but there some old age homes,” Madkaikar said, and added that for the scheme to be implemented an NGO should come forward as the Department of Social Welfare is not in a position to run these homes.
