MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday came under severe criticism from a quarter unconnected to politics.
Apparently moved by the plight of the inmates in the government-run old age institute at Majorda, the Goa Citizens Welfare Trust has said it have lost confidence in the chief minister for having failed to take care of the elders in the 11 homes run by the Provedoria. “It has been nine month since we met Parrikar with video footage of the pathetic situation at the old age homes. Nothing has changed since then. Why is the government not protecting the elders housed in the old-age homes? They also deserve a dignified life,” remarked GCWT Chairman Micheal Ferns.
If Ferns is to be believed, the Trust had donated 30 water mattresses to the old age home. But, he could not find a single such mattress at the Majorda old age home, even as a woman inmate with leg injuries was found struggling on a normal bed without basis amenities.
He said if the government cannot run the old age homes, they should hand it over to people willing to look after the aged. “Here, we aren’t talking about mining or RP, but about human beings craving for attention and facilities”, he added.
Saying that the Chief Minister should pull up his socks, Ferns said the Chief Minister should take up the humanitarian issue instead of running after mining. “There has been three deaths at the Majorda old-age home. We don’t know the exact cause of death. One reason could be negligence. It is violation of the basic human rights,” he said.
