1.1.2025. 9am IST
Hon CM of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant on the eve of The New Year ie 30.12.24 , signs a file which he had promised to do & with this signature , our food allowance increases from Rs 33 per day to Rs 200 per day for poor goan homeless women with mental disabilities in our shelter homes.
On behalf of STREET PROVIDENCE, I wish each and everyone a Very Happy and Blessed New Year 2025.
2024 has been a fantastic year at our NGO both at Street Providence shelter homes & Food Bank Sangolda.
Our struggle started exactly a year back at WCD over in December 2023 :
◇ grants not given in time ,
◇ grants given at 2007 inflation rate,
◇ Unnecessary waste of time to follow up,
Etc.
We took :
Morchas, Press conferences, Agitations.
We even sat in the WCD office one night with a strong police force from Panjim Police station sent by my good friend PI Vijay Chondankar.
But the fight was not in Vain & I did not give up.
During this struggle , between me and the Deputy Director , many Angels came to the rescue and 90% of them were from The Government of Goa.
I am publicily thanking all those who stood with us for a worthy cause :
☆ 1. Former WCD Director, Mrs Sangeeta Porob
☆ 2. Followed by former WCD Director Mrs Fransquina Oliveira
☆ 3. Current WCD Director, Mr Manuel Barretto.
☆ 4. Mr Arun Kumar Mishra IAS, Secretary WCD for doing his best to sign and move ASAP all and any file connected to the our NGO regarding shelter homes for women on the streets.
☆ 5. Minister Subhash Phal Dessai for being that important link to listen to my problems and get the same conveyed to the Hon CM of Goa.
Not once, not twice but many times.
☆ 6. Disability Commissioner, Sir Guru Pawaskar who listened to all my unending complaints and threats and worked towards getting the actual ground reality issues of disabilities on the streets to the ears of The Hon CM of Goa.
☆ 7. Add Finance Secretary, Mr Vikas Gaunker, the most important link who has always understood the problems faced by our NGO towards caring for poor goan ladies on the streets with mental disabilities.
Without his signature on any file – it's next to impossible to get any grants from the Government.
☆ 8. Dysp Tushar Vernekar incharge of Hon CM security for giving us appointments as and when we were in a need to raise our grievances infront of The Hon CM and being a link to get the signature on the file even though the file in the CMO.
☆ 9. Hon Minister of WCD , Sir Vishwajeet Rane for not holding our file back in the last one year when presented for his signature.
In the last 6 years of taking grants from WCD, I am yet to be invited by the Hon WCD Minister neither have I met personally the Hon WCD Minister.
A big thanks to Mr Vishwajeet Rane,
WCD Minister for all the support given in the last 6 years towards our NGO from his department ie WOMEN & CHILD ( WCD )
Finally to Dr Pramod Sawant who has been a true brother / son to the homeless goan ladies with mental disabilities in our homes.
JAN 24 funds released & MAR 24 funds released which was due for 22-23 & 23-24.
July 24 funds released in advance for 24-25 which usually was not happening for the last 6 years of we getting grants from WCD.
July 24 First tranche released = 30%
Sept 24 second tranche released for 24-25 = 30%
So total we got 60%
30.12.24 file signed and that is another 30%.
That too in the middle of the year to get approval is not an easy task. But Hon CM kept his word.
We still have another 10% to get which the Dept has to move quickly the file as Hon CM, I am confident will sign that too.
My New Year Resolution :
Help another 60 goan homeless ladies with mental disabilities to get off the streets and into our homes.
Hon CM has helped us get connected through the above Minister , Secretaries & Other officers & it's better to sit on a table and raise the point rather than shout on a street.
Last I thank our COOL & CALM volunteer for all occasions and all problems, former DIG of Goa Police, Sir Bosco George retd IPS for all the networking , co ordinating, follow up on my behalf in the Secretariat.
Sir Bosco has taught me and guided me how to deal with the right people in the Government.
Sir Bosco is our fire fighting man between Street Providence and The Government of Goa regarding poor goan homeless abandoned women on the streets with mental disabilities.
We are committed to doubling our intake from the current sanctioned grant for 60 ladies to 120 ladies as no goan lady should be on the streets of Goa.
Overall The Government of Goa has not been troubling our work either at The Food Bank or at the Shelter homes.
HARD WORK PAYS & PAYS THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED INSPITE OF THE OBSTACLES.
We are committed to ending Hunger and homelessness in Goa in 2025.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes
8380087564 / 7020314848