17.11.2024. 9am IST. Part 1
Join us on 19th Nov 2024 Tuesday at Azad Maidan Panjim for a protest at 10 am.
Goan lady admitted and living in a mental hospital for close to 4 decades (apprx 40 years).
Today there are 70 such people living for years starting at 2 years and going up to 40 years in mental hospital. ( attaching detail list in PART 2)
Protest , as we humbly togther request The SORKAR to look at the number of poor Goan ladies ( & gents ) turning homeless due to mental disabilities and either living & dying on the streets or getting locked up in mental hospitals for months years & even decades.
The SORKAR should either start their own homes or be more considerate towards our NGO which is already having shelter homes for poor people with mental disabilities.
The SORKAR is not doing enough for those suffering from mental disabilities and most disappointing is ” promising to increase the funding for grants towards shelter homes but it's not happening as expected “.
Well caring for poor ladies ( & gents ) with mental disabilities is not possible or viable service without The SORKAR support & that's why there are absolutely no shelter homes besides Street Providence.
We run 11 homes with a 240 bed capacity for men & ladies.
We are intending to double the capacity to 500 beds but only if The SORKAR supports.
When The SORKAR gives you grant in 2024 @ of :
》Rs 33 per day for 3 meals &
》Rs 6.67 paisa per day for psychiatric medication, still no one is starting homes for people with mental disabilities.
Why no one is starting homes?
Because the above rates are as per the inflation rate calculated in the year 2007 and we are currently in the year 2024.
Can anyone feed a psychiatric poor lady patient with Rs 33 per day or Rs 1000 per month ?
What type of psychiatric medication can one buy with Rs 6.67 per day or Rs 200 per month when caring for ladies patients with disabilities ?
◇ A. No proper funding leads to no one starting shelter homes.
◇ B. No shelter homes means more poor goans turning homeless on the streets.
◇ C. More homeless means break down of system.
◇ D. Break Down of system leads to pile up of poor people in mental hospitals.
◇ E. Over loading of mental hospitals means beds are occupied.
◇ F. Occupied beds in mental hospitals means fresh and genuine patients can't access mental facilities resulting again in them living on the streets.
◇ G. Police can't do much as after admitting these homeless or poor goans into mental hospitals they are discharged after few days as mental hospitals are not shelter homes
◇ H. So cycle repeats because of LACK OF SHELTER HOMES.
And LACK OF SHELTER HOMES is due to grants or funding given at inflation rate calculated at 2007 towards food and medication which are the most important components of shelter homes for poor with mental disabilities.
So don't get disappointed when you call me to provide rehabilitation to poor goans suffering from mental disabilities or the homeless on the streets and I just can't help on the spot.
●●●● Kindly note : ●●●●
These grants are only for ladies.
For men nothing is given. ABSOLUTELY ZERO.
Where is the $$$$$$ ?.
Daily we receive request at times upto 3 or 4 for admission and that not possible to entertain as there is no sufficient support from The SORKAR
With already 15% of our population suffering from disabilities it's a worrying affair and the percentage is rising but THE SORKAR is not blinking their eyes towards MENTAL DISABILITIES but only putting money on PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.
Worse is those adults with INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES as that's another nightmare to handle and here too no shelter homes.
Inspite of my wilingness to take in more poor goans with mental disabilities & with an abnormal high levels of motivation, your support is still required on 19.11.24 at 10 am to impress upon The SORKAR to address the issues before it gets out of hand.
At times I too feel or get thoughts to one day pack my bags and shut down the homes or rather reduce fresh admissions into our homes.
Of all the residents in our homes, minimum
80+ residents are going to end up back in the mental hospital, the day i decide i can't manage any further.
These 80+ residents are chronic patients with high level of mental disabilities who will never ever recover and require 24*7 rehabilitation and care.
Imagine this :
Bed capacity at the mental hospital 190 .
Already permanently occupied beds 70.
We have 80 chronic residents.
We are understanding but currently being pushed and if we push back then it will collapse.
SORKAR – ” please listen to our requests “.
We are calling upon you our well wishers, friends, activists, politicians, benefactors, critics, media – social, electronic and others to help us get help to the poorest of the poor with mental Disabilities.
Help them to get a home to stay rather than live in a mental hospital for years/decades or die on the streets as they too have a right to life and are INDIAN CITIZENS.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
Let's meet on 19.11.24 at 10am Azad Maidan Panjim Goa.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes
8380087564 / 7020314848
