MAPUSA
Emphasising the need to treat homeless people more humanely, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said there was a need to build a shelter for the homeless in the State so that they get proper treatment and are looked after well.
Lobo also said that there were very few people who looked after such people in the country and recalled how Mother Tereza used to look after such homeless people on a much bigger scale. “We need to care for these people. They are part of the society. They are part of us. Nobody wants to look after them probably because they are either mentally unstable or suffering from some illness,” Lobo said.
The Calangute MLA was interacting with the media while hosting a breakfast with the homeless inmates housed at Parra run by the Jeevan Anand organisation. Police officials of Mapusa, Calangute and Anjuna were also present on the occasion. The founder of Jeevan Anand, Sandeep Parab, informed that there were 22 inmates in the house most of whom were non-Goans.
Lobo said the founder of Jeevan Anand has been looking after such homeless people who are unwell for free on donations provided by a few benefactors. “He runs the place on rent which only adds to the expenses. Apart from rent, they have to pay for their food, medicines and doctors. There is a need to build a permanent shelter for such people. Such organisations like Jeevan Anand need a permanent place “ for women and men “ so that they don’t have to pay rent. We need to join hands to help such people,” he said.
He said the government’s Provedoria houses only the old-aged but not those who are mentally unsound or who are injured. He said the homeless people roam endlessly on roads or sleep on the pavements or in the open rain or sunshine. “Police can identify such people but many times they don’t know where to house them as there is no government facility to look after the homeless,” he said.
