the goan I network
PANAJI
In a new development on Saturday, the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane agreed to let the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) tie up with NGO Street Providence - an NGO dedicated to looking after the homeless.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane sent out a message through whatsapp on Saturday night that the GMC is set to partner with Street Providence, which “The Goan” later confirmed with trustee of Street Providence Donald Fernandes.
Fernandes, who was happy with the development, explained that the Health Minister has now agreed to let the NGO pick up homeless people from the GMC and house them in the shelters for the homeless that the NGO has across the state.
Meanwhile, Fernandes said that the police have also offered their support to pick up the homeless. It will be remembered that the NGO had earlier run into some trouble when an MoU with the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) turned sour, after GSUDA did not pay the NGO its dues as stated in the MoU. This led the NGO to withdraw from the MoU.
This leaves the state government in a fix about how to look after its urban homeless, which is mandatory according to central government norms under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). The state government was fined for not looking after its homeless less than a year ago.
Street Providence is willing to collaborate with the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) headed by Dr Tariq Thomas IAS for the same, but no longer with the GSUDA. The NGO is upset with certain officials in the GSUDA, alleging that they are involved in a scam, which is why money meant to look after the homeless is not being utilized for the same.
