This Goan boy , studying in Std Xth ( 10 ) , till a few weeks back was living on the streets till we rescued him and his mother , today has the desire to complete his Std Xth ( 10 ) but our shelter home is 25 kms away from the School and there is no connecting public transport between our home and the school. 

About two weeks back we rescued this young goan boy and his mother who has a life threatening sickness as well as mental disabilities from the streets and started caring for them in our women & men's Home separately. 

Next day of the rescue was his 10th Std board MCQ exam & the examination hall was about 20 kms away from the shelter Home. 

We hired a PILOT ( hired motorcycle ) to drop him and pick him as we did not want to stress him further. 

Of course I knew before taking both into the shelter home that His education and schooling was going to be a big cost to our NGO but some one had to rescue & rehabilitate both of them and keep them togther as the mother is used to the son & son to the mother & separating them at this stage will be absolutely cruel on my part. 

Today the regular classes started and we had to hire THE PILOT ( hired motorcycle ) to drop him to school and bring him back . 

School starts at 8.30 am and gets over by 

1.45 pm. 

There is absolutely no other way a young child can travel 25 kms one way to school other than going on a PILOT ( hired motorcycle). 

The cost is Rs approx 16000 a month for him to be dropped and picked up . 

We don't require this money at one time but it can be given every month so that one is not overburdened with the amount . 

Our NGO really can't take the hit of this huge amount of transportation as we are really tied up with many many projects and our homeless friends are now are above 150 in all our shelter homes. 

Expenses are rising and at times we too feel the pinch but sometimes even if I want to refuse a rescue & rehabilitation my conscience does not permit me . 

And mind you alot , I mean alot of well known people,  rich and powerful people from this area have seen this mother and son living on the street but due to they being abandoned may have concluded that there is no use of helping them . 

It's the Festive season of Christmas and it's nice to help some one who you don't know. 

Of course you can always meet the young lad one day in the shelter home once you agree to take care of this transportation expenses . 

Plus he was just today telling me on the phone that he is weak in MATHS , HINDI and requires tuitions. 

So that cost plus other expenses only a parent will understand whose child is in STD Xth ( 10 ). 

Imagine the boy knows he has ABSOLUTELY no one in this WORLD , no relatives both sides and a mother who might not make it much longer due to her sickness. 

He has to study to survive. 

But the GROUND is not even existing to play. 

Many shelter homes were contacted before we approached to step in. 

Most  refused, some gave silly reasons, some  only wanted the boy and not the mother . 

We immediately Said YES , We will care for both mother & son. 

We DARE TO DREAM rather than just walk away . 

Your little support monthly can make a huge difference in the life of this young goan abandoned ( by his father at very early age ) boy and whose mother just can't take care of herself leave alone the son. 

And those who think that our own Goans are not homeless, please read this message again. 

God bless you 

The RIGHT TO FOOD is a basic human right but ironically the Director of FOOD & DRUGS ADMINISTRATION, BAMBOLIM  and the FSSAI, Bambolim are yet to realise this. 

The number of  homeless and Hungry are increasing alarmingly in Goa. 

I am frustrated , disappointed,  upset and disturbed at how the FDA & FSSAI , Goa is permitting wastage of excess edible food daily.  

We at STREET PROVIDENCE  have done our best to partner with FDA & FSSAI, BAMBOLIM, but the powers that be are not intrested. 

On 14 10.22 we held a silent protest at Azad Maidan panjim against FSSAI BAMBOLIM 

Subsequently on  27.10 22, FSSAI BAMBOLIM held a press conference / stake holders meeting to address this issue of wastage of edible food  which we  have been fighting  for alone for the last so many years . 

The Press covered this event and attached is a 30 second video of the FSSAI DIRECTOR. Lots of talk at meetings but the outcome is yet to be seen. 👇

The FSSAI under the SAVE FOOD , FEED FOOD INNIATITVE is bound to have a HELPLINE NO ,  without which this launch held last month is of no value , ” BUT THERE NO HELPLINE NUMBER ” & the silly part ” I brought this point to the notice of AN IMPORTANT EMPLOYEE of FSSAI & he coolly asked me CAN WE USE YOUR NO AS THE HELPLINE NO ?” 

On 28.10 22 our NGO resigned as a food partner from the  FSSAI INITIATIVE and a email was sent to the authorities to this effect. 

On 17.11.22 , FSSAI BAMBOLIM releases the minutes of the meeting,  does not send us a copy but mentions STREET PROVIDENCE in the minutes as the Recovery Agency  despite being aware that STREET PROVIDENCE has resigned in desperation. 

In the press conference , Director, FDA, says there are 3 Recovery Agencies in Goa but does not name any one. On being asked queries by those who attended that meeting on 27.10.22,  she says that names of Recovery Agencies   will be informed  later . 

In the minutes dated 17.11.22 , besides the name of STREET PROVIDENCE  , no other Recovery Agent is mentioned. 

Obviously none exists in reality except on the FSSAI website. 

If  they did exist, then why were they not called for the meeting on 27.10.22 ? 

I am sure FSSAI will bring some non Goan food recovery agencies and say see we have food recovery agencies now. 

The minutes of the meeting states that our NGO did not attend the meeting . 

Yes, we did not attend the meeting,  but we  emailed the Director,FSSAI well in advance informing her of the futility of attending the meeting in the absence of an Agenda . 

Were the other 2 recovery agencies invited ? 

Why did they not come for the meeting on 27.10.22 ? 

Obviously there are no other Food recovery agencies in Goa . 

Strangely today, 18th November, 22 during my conversation with the IMPORTANT EMPLOYEE 

of FSSAI about the above minutes, his reply ” WE WILL CALL ANOTHER MEETING NEXT MONTH & DECIDE WHAT TO DO ” is a clear indicator of the confused attitude towards the FSSAI INITIATIVE. 

The EMPLOYEE  went on to say that ” WE WILL ASK OTHER RECOVERY AGENCIES TO REGISTER “. 

That means FSSAI is justing wasting time doing nothing . 

In the last 4 years no NGO from GOA has joined this initiative and today AFTER THE LAUNCH is done, FSSAI is  searching for FOOD RECOVERY PARTNERS and yet to put out the HELPLINE NO & yet to give the names and nos of FOOD RECOVERY AGENCIES registered in Goa to collect extra food . 

Food banks and food recovery are not done at press conferences & at meetings . 

Its done at the ground level with foot soldiers. 

So basically :

Food wastage will go on  & the hungry will have to wait for a meal daily. 

So we as a Shelter Home may be forced to reduce or cap our intake as food costs is more that 50% and that makes the homeless reach the streets . 

Add The garbage dumps growing bigger and bigger . Why ? 

Today there is more than 10000 tonnes of garbage at a dump in South Goa . 

If, 4 years back iSHARE FOOD , SAVE FOOD INITIATIVE was started by FSSAI BAMBOLIM across Goa would not the  wet garbage be reduced? 

No one cares and no one is bothered about :

That's what is troubling me . 

We are ready to pick :

☆ 8640000 kgs / 8640 tonnes a year 

& daily feed 15000 meals through out employees and staff . 

But Director of FSSAI is not listening to me neither is she interested in understanding how to save good food from being wasted. 

God bless you