the goan I network
PORVORIM
While the State government has been highlighting the need to ensure that differently-abled persons receive the necessary support in society, necessary support isn’t always forthcoming from government agencies themselves.
In one such case, a differently-abled man from Joswado“Socorro had built a house and had applied to Porvorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) for an NOC on November 29, 2018 for the release of water and electricity connections.
Over nine months have passed and the PHC was yet to issue an NOC to the applicant.
Upset over the inordinate delay in issuing the NOC, a delegation of local BJP leaders, Guruprasad Pawaskar, Govind Parvatkar, Kunda Chodankar, Kishor Asnodkar, Mahananda Asnodkar and Ashok Shetty, marched to the PHC on Tuesday to confront the Health officer Dr Sikandar Talwar.
However, they were informed that Dr Talwar is on leave and they later met Dr Marina Fernandes.
The BJP leaders informed Dr Fernandes that the differently abled man had met the Health Officer Dr Talwar several times for the NOC, but it had not been issued to him for over nine months.
As a result, they said the man could not reside in his own house for want of electricity and water connections.
The BJP leaders claimed that the PHC had released NOCs for release of water and electricity connections to several people who had built houses in the locality and accused the PHC of discrimination towards the differently-abled man.
In her reply, Dr Fernandes told the BJP leaders that she was unaware about the matter and assured to discuss the matter with the health officer for necessary action.
NOC pending due to irregularities: Health Officer
PORVORIM: The Porvorim Primary Health Centre Health Officer Dr Sikandar Talwar has claimed there were certain irregularities which had led to the pending NOC to the differently-abled man.
Dr Sikandar Talwar clarified that in the application for issue of NOC, for electrical and water connection, the survey number was mentioned as 227/14A whereas the actual survey number as per Form I&IV is 227/23. “On inspecting the house on January 29 it was found that nobody was residing in the house and the toilet was constructed above the septic tank.”
“As per Section 94/A of Goa Public Health Act 2005, electrical and water connection can be issued only if the person is staying in the house.”
“Further, the application was made by two persons,” Dr Talwar added.
He claimed there was constant pressure on him to issue the NOC.
“I was even threatened over phone with dire consequences by some persons if the NOC was not issued. I have filed a complaint in this regard at the Porvorim police station on June 14,” said Dr Talwar.
