PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced plans to make Goa the best state in the country when it comes to caring for those with special needs.
Speaking at a press conference, Parrikar announced a consultative process that would begin by November based on which the government would draft different schemes and launch initiatives for those with special needs.
"Let us be the best state in the country on supporting 'special' people so that they can stand on their own feet and be independent as far as possible," Parrikar said.
"In the second week of November government will set up a consultative mechanism after interacting with NGOs and others operators who are running the schools. It will modify the earlier instructions (schemes). This includes destitutes, orphans, dementia patients and alzheimer patients. Our exercise is on. If I do it in a hurry, then it may result in backfiring. I want to take all stakeholders into confidence. We will work out something and call them to discuss and find out their actual difficulties," Parrikar said.
The state government has revived an infrastructure loan-cum-grant scheme this time only for ‘special' schools and not for institutions schooling regular students, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced.
Announcing the decision, which was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet on Wednesday, Parrikar said that as many as 22 schools across the state could stand to benefit.
"(Under the earlier scheme) a primary school could get up to Rs 50 lakh, secondary schools Rs one crore and higher secondary schools Rs two crore grants, which ended in 2015. Unluckily at that time special schools were missed out. There are about 22 special schools in Goa which also technically deserve this support," Parrikar said.
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In the second week of November government will set up a consultative mechanism after interacting with NGOs and others operators who are running the schools. It will modify the earlier instructions (schemes)
- Manohar Parrikar
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