OLD GOA
A month after a gas cylinder blast damaged their home, the Usgaonkar family from Chimbel may get their house rebuilt under the ‘Shram-Dham’ initiative. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar visited the site on Saturday for a preliminary inspection.
Tawadkar was accompanied by local MLA Rudolf Fernandes, ZP member Girish Uskaikar, Chimbel Sarpanch Sandesh Shirodkar, former St Cruz BJP block president Pramod Kamat, local panch Manisha Chopdekar, and other panchas.
The blast last month severely damaged the house, forcing the family to move into a rented home in distant Merces. The family includes an elderly couple, two widows, and other members.
After the visit, Tawadkar said this was an initial assessment to see if the house could be rebuilt under the ‘Shram-Dham’ initiative.
“Widows and physically challenged persons qualify for ‘Shram-Dham’, but the idea is that the local community should contribute their skills to help build the house,” Tawadkar explained.
When asked how long it would take to decide, he said discussions would be held with other representatives, and a decision should be made in about a week.
Meanwhile, the family is hopeful their home will be rebuilt under the scheme.
“Since our house was damaged, we have been living in a rented place in Merces. We are eagerly waiting to return home,” said elder daughter-in-law Sandhya Usgaonkar.
