MARGAO: Finally, Vimal Shirodkar, ex-Traffic Home Guard, who was rendered homeless after her house was destroyed by the rains, has a renovated house. She thanked all her ‘real’ well-wishers who helped her get a new home.
A total of Rs 4 lakh was donated by well-wishers to Vimal. After the incident, Savio Coutinho and South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes accompanied by others visited Vimal and assured her of assistance. Earlier, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat had brought in a sponsor after crowd funding was initiated.
An overwhelmed Vimal told the media, “I thank all my well wishers since you have repaired my house. You are like God to me. I never think ill of others. My mother died 18 years ago, my younger brother died about 8 months ago.”
“I’m happy that I finally have a roof over my head. I thank each and every one of you,” Vimal added.
Savio Coutinho, former chairperson of MMC, who initiated the crowd funding, said, “We have gathered here because finally, Vimal’s house is ready. On July 14, 2024, her house collapsed. On that day, Margao MLA, Mamlatdar and Talathi came and inspected the place and said they would send labourers on July 15, and clear everything. But when we came on July 15, along with MP Capt Viriato Fernandes, no workers turned up. So by afternoon we brought a JCB and cleared everything. Next day we brought labourers to clear the remaining debris. Thereafter the MMC labourers came, the MLA and they left by 10.30am. But our labourers continued the work.”
“Previous day, we asked for crowd funding through the QR code. So her well wishers from around the world started depositing money into her account. So the amount deposited in her account is Rs 4 lakh. The Margao MLA had said that Rs 2 lakh were deposited in her account. That has not happened. It is only Rs 1.20 lakh has been deposited. Rs 80,000 may come later.”
When asked by mediapersons who built the house, Coutinho said, “As stated by MLA, a philanthropist has built the house. I will also name the philanthropist. He is a contractor, who instead of building a gutter, just plastered the old gutter and declared it as new. Ours is original Philanthropist, who has never met or seen Vimal.”
