PANAJI
A roof, a bed and a chance to rebuild -- that is what the State hopes to offer homeless Goans through a newly notified Shelter Home Scheme, under which registered NGOs and institutions will receive government assistance to provide temporary accommodation and rehabilitation to those left without family or social support.
The initiative has been designed for persons of Goan origin who have become homeless because of family disputes, social ostracism, exploitation or other circumstances, and combines temporary shelter with counselling, vocational training and rehabilitation to help them regain their footing and reintegrate into society.
Notified earlier this month, the shelter homes will provide services including medical care, psychiatric treatment, case work services, occupational therapy, education-cum-vocational training and recreational facilities.
“The scheme ‘Shelter Home’ extends temporary shelter and rehabilitation to any individual of Goan origin who has no social support systems due to family problems, social ostracism, exploitation and other causes,” it stated.
Under the financial assistance package, every eligible shelter home will receive an annual grant of Rs 10.08 lakh towards staffing, including a women protection officer, rehabilitation officer, counsellor, medical officer, caregivers and other personnel. In addition, NGOs will be eligible for Rs 2.58 lakh annually towards office contingencies, medical expenses, rehabilitation activities and rent, while maintenance assistance of up to Rs 700 per resident will be provided to meet the day-to-day expenses of inmates.
The scheme is open to native Goans aged 18 years and above who require temporary shelter and rehabilitation. Women admitted to shelter homes will be allowed to keep their young children with them until they attain the age of seven, after which the children may be transferred to child care institutions or foster care facilities through the Child Welfare Committee.
The notification also explained that the scheme is intended to provide temporary shelter and support to individuals who have no family or social support systems to rely on and to rehabilitate the individual socially and economically by provision of skill training and counselling.
Financial assistance, however, will be subject to stringent conditions. Only registered NGOs, public trusts, local bodies and government agencies with experience in running shelter homes or related welfare programmes will be eligible. They must demonstrate sound finances, adequate infrastructure and trained personnel before being considered for assistance.
The government has also built in oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability. Grants must be utilised entirely within the financial year for the purpose for which they are sanctioned, with organisations required to furnish utilisation certificates and audited accounts. The department will conduct periodic inspections, while NGOs must maintain detailed records of residents and submit annual reports on their activities. Any misuse of funds will invite recovery proceedings under law.
Each shelter home must house a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 35 residents, while a registered organisation can receive grant-in-aid for up to seven shelter homes across the State.
For implementation, the government will constitute a State Level Committee headed by the Social Welfare Minister. The panel will include district magistrates, the Superintendent of Police (Crime), representatives from the Goa State Commission for Women, the Directorate of Health Services, the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), the Directorate of Women and Child Development, the Goa District Legal Services Authority and other departments to oversee the scheme and monitor the welfare and safety of residents.
