PANAJI
On World Braille Day, the Food Bank for the Poor, Sangolda- Goa has tied up with National Association for the Blind (NAB) Goa to provide dry monthly ration and medication to 30 needy persons who are either totally or partially blind. The president of NAB, Rozendo Mendonsa from Mr Farmer India Pvt Ltd, Guirim approached Donald Fernandes of the Food Bank for the Poor and requested to provide dry ration, household items and medicines to these visually impaired children, their siblings and parents from across Goa to which he agreed and, in this year 2021 the project would begin.
Thanking the Food Bank for the Poor for accepting NAB’s request, the NAB president has pointed out that there are 30 children who are visually impaired and come from a poor background. As they come from economically low class, they cannot afford to purchase household items, medicines or ration.
“The Directorate of Social Welfare offers Rs 3500 to totally blind persons and a lesser amount to partially blind persons, but this is not enough to survive. The parents of these children work as casual labourers and earn some money, but that does not suffice. Hence, we have approached Donald to support these children,” stated Mendonsa, who is popularly known as Mr Farmer in Bardez.
“Being impaired or blind is not an easy life especially when one is poor and lives below the poverty line. We thank Mendonca for entrusting us with his request which we have agreed to provide ration and medicines to 30 very poor people,” stated Donald, who has appealed to the people in Goa to come forward and help in delivering these ration kits to these families, using their vehicles.
The families are right across all talukas of Goa so wherever you reside there will always be a poor blind person to help, says Donald, pointing out that the pandemic has taken a real harsh toll on a lot of marginalized sections of poor people, who need support to lead their lives.
“In case you are upgrading your home do not go for exchange but give your used household items like chairs, tables, fridge etc to these families. Either these items, including food or medicines can be directly provided to the families or handed over to Mendonsa,” appeals Donald who would provide the addresses of these families living in the vicinity of the donor.
