PANAJI
Water Resource Development Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Sunday lamented that there is general indifference in society to the old and infirm even as he said that in current times "bad behaviour" towards them was visible.
Shirodkar, who was speaking as chief guest at the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Provedoria or Public Assistance Department in the capital city, said society in Goa was becoming less compassionate, particularly towards the old and infirm citizens.
Referring to the Provedoria which manages several old age homes across Goa, Shirodkar said it was established in pre-liberation times primarily to provide service to society.
"However, Provedoria has not seen any donation to its coffers since 1986. Earlier when it ran the lottery which had stopped several years ago, it lost a big source of funds. Now, it is solely dependent on whatever grants it gets from the State government," Shirodkar said.
The minister also appealed to Goa's affluent citizenry to consider Provedoria for their generous consideration as a measure of service to the senior citizens which the society cares for, at its homes.
Shirodkar also underscored the need to inculcate a sense of compassion towards the elderly and infirm among Goa's youth possibly through curriculum intervention in the education system.
Secretary (Provedoria) Subhash Chandra, IAS, who was the guest of honour at the event, said some of the properties owned by the Provedoria face encroachments and these needed to be dealt with.
These properties need to be cleared of encroachments, he said, urging the minister to apply his mind to the subject and pointed out that the clear properties could be put to use to earn revenue for Provedoria and fund its activities.
The Provedoria runs 10 Old Age homes and two Children's Centres across the State. Most of these homes were donated by philanthropists. Revenues earned by it through the lottery ran by it also went into funding the activities of the Hospicio hospital in Margao and the Asilo Hospital in Mapusa both of which later functioned as the South and North Goa district hospitals.
