This is MARIE / FAUSTINA a poor ethnic homeless goan lady with severe mental disabilities.

For 15+ years what I can remember her , always sitting outside NAVTARA RESTAURANT Panjim Goa.

Aggressive, unclean , abusive , suffering from severe mental disabilities.

Night time all 12 months be it cold, rain , winter used to sleep in old abandoned vechiles in the city.

From 2017 when I started the shelter homes I had an eye on her.

From Dec 2017 till Feb 2024 , numerous Inspectors were appointed at Panjim Police station but again not sure why she was still on the streets. 

Finally a genuine friend of the homeless street people in Goa, Inspector Mr Vijay Chondankar was appointed INSPECTOR of Panjim Police station in Feb 2024.

We requested PI Vijay to help get Marie / Faustina off the streets of NAVTARA Restaurant Panjim & he consented.

PSI Allaudin Khan was entrusted the job by the PI & Psi Khan did a good job by physically being present when Marie / FAUSTINA was taken off the streets and admitted into IPHB.

Thanks to all the Doctors @ IPHB who did a wonderful job in stabilizing Marie / FAUSTINA over a period of 6 months.

But along with severe mental disabilities Marie/ FAUSTINA is also suffering from a life threatening sickness.

Inspite of both complicated sickness we have taken her into our shelter Home yesterday after IPHB discharged her and Panjim Police requested us to care for her as she can't live on the streets again. 

Waiting for the order from Director of WCD, 

Mr Barretto to admitt her into our home.

It's a sad state of affairs in Marie / FAUSTINA case .

So many religious people , politicians, activists, NGOs like me also , Inspectors & Dysps , business people, etc over a period of 15+ years saw her but all did nothing or nothing much was done to get her to a home permanently.

It's a shame that our own goan people are homeless and left to fend on the streets till they die, as all departments are just too busy doing everything else than providing shelter to these genuine goan homeless.

Like Marie / FAUSTINA there are another 50 to 60 plus genuine ethnic poor abandoned people goans in need of shelter but who cares ?

We are trying but it's too stressful and expensive as most homeless are having mental disabilities with other Complicated health issues.

Departments like Social Welfare Department &  EMPOWERMENT of Persons with Disabilities Department need to pull their socks up and focus more on people with mental disabilities also.

We have a down to earth Minister for both the above Departments Mr Subhash Phal Dessai and two energetic Directors for  

Social welfare : Mr Ajit Panchwadkar 

EPwd : Mrs Varsha Naik

And all the above 3 are attempting to get things moving for people on the streets with mental disabilities but it's happening at a slow space and i am a man in a hurry.

The WCD department under The Director of 

Mr Manuel Barretto is working tirelessly to provide as much support as required to women on the streets through grants as well as through paperwork and we are grateful to him.

Last but not the least we thank The Hon CM of Goa for atleast giving us an opportunity to raise our grievances and understanding the issue of homeless goans aa well as non goans on the streets with mental disabilities. 

Sorry to write this and be rude but the truth is this ” Government through all departments is 

not / may not be keen to put down money / grants/ resources on people with mental disabilities as the returns are ZERO , where as Government through various departments especially Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department is doing alot for peoole with physical disabilities which is good sign “.

The % of Persons with mental Disability as compared to physical disabilities is 70 : 30 or say 60 : 40 .

It hurts me that after following up non stop with WCD last 2 years , I am now forced to follow up with Social Welfare Department & EMPOWERMENT of PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES for grants towards shelter homes for homeless beggars & homeless goans on the streets with mental disabilities like MARIE / FAUSTINA.

Most Directors and top government officials in all departments want to help but the systems are just not moving fast and on the other side the demand for care and rehabilitation is rising quickly and fast.

Hon CM Mr Pramod Sawant and Social Welfare Minister Mr Subhash Phal Dessai should do something quickly for homeless beggars and poor homeless goans on the streets with mental disabilities. 

Incase anyone recognizes MARIE / FAUSTINA & knows her family please let me know through whatsapp messages only .

I am aware she is / was having a house on chorao island.

All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564

Www.streetprovidencegoa.com 

God bless you all