Category Archives: Updates

30Apr/24

BEGINNING OF APRIL 24 STARTED TWO NEW INITIATIVES TO FEED THE HUNGRY & HELP THOSE IN HOSPITALS.

Updates
30.4.24. 10 pm IST 
5 factories @ Verna donate food enough to feed 15000 meals in the entire month of April 24.
STREET PROVIDENCE beginning of April 24 started two new initiatives to feed the hungry & help those in hospitals.
This post is about feeding the hungry.
Well we associated with 10 big factories in Verna Industrial Area to collect their extra cooked canteen food starting 1.4.24
Of the 10 factories, we started collecting food from 5 factories from 1.4.24 and one factory joined in on 24.4.24. ( 4 more yet to start).
☆ Well 5000+ kgs was donated by these 6 factories for the entire month of April 24 enough to feed 15000 meals as 1 kg food = 3 meals. 
♡♡♡ We thank the management & owners  of these companies for supporting this initiative and for allowing us to put our freezers in their factories to store their Night food and morning breakfast.
Lunch we collect daily which is pipping hot.
Every afternoon we collect all this food – hot & cold food in our vehicle which has a digital scale carried along and each factory food donated is weighed and listed down.  That's how we got these exact figures.
Infact we even shared the individual kgs of food donated by each company to the respective HR manager of these companies.
♡♡♡ We also thank the 10 benefactors who donated fridges to be installed in these 10 factories.
The most satisfying part is in our 3 shelter Homes in South Goa catering to 80+ inmates suffering with severe mental disabilities, our food costs reduced by a whopping 80% in this month which is like a few lacs of Rupees
80 inmates * 3 meals * 30 days = 7200 meals is the quality of food consumed in our south Goa homes itself.
Some quality is daily taken back to our base at porvorim for our 7 homes in the north.
Rest of the food we give daily to other NGO homes as well as feeders who feed the poor in cities and other areas in South Goa.
With donations taking a hit due to March ending, exam fever , holiday season and food prices rising daily , its a huge relief to me especially to be able to cut our food costs just because THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE COMPANIES through The GRACE OF GOD understood our project & supported this unique project.
Imagine what & where 5000 + kgs of this food if not given to us would end up ?  Bins.
We request all the companies at VERNA INDUSTRIAL AREA to join in with our FOOD BANK to feed the hungry and save good Cooked food daily reaching the bins.
My calculations tell me that daily from Verna Industrial Area ie : 
》3000 kgs to 3500 kgs a day or 3 tones a day or 
》75 tonnes a month 
》900 tonnes a year , 
is reaching the bins which can actually be given to feed the poor and hungry in Goa.
Running food banks & daily collecting food and feeding the poor is not easy and there are hidden tensions as well as daily recurring costs involved.
It's a Calling to go beyond one's call of duty .
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
29Apr/24

ADMITS TWO YOUNG GOAN GIRLS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MENTAL DISABILITIES INTO OUR WOMEN SHELTER HOME

Updates
29.4.24. 7pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA admits two young Goan girls suffering from severe mental disabilities into our Women shelter Home in the last few days.
One girl is from ST community & one girl is a goan Muslim.
Both cases are very sad and disturbing.
The ST girl is a case of taking off her clothes and roaming around anywhere and everywhere.
Anyone roaming without clothes indicates a very very high level of severe mental disabilities. 
Family is trying but she refuses to take medication and does not listen to the elderly mother.
The other girl has been locked in her house for the last 10 years or so and even her one parent is suffering from mental disabilities.
This girl is not educated much as she has been suffering from disabilities at a very early age and not sent out at all last 10 years.
Both girls have only their mother alive and both are having only one brother each.
Both brothers from each family are struggling with manual jobs to look after their respective mother and sister.
You can imagine the amount of stress & disappointment for the last so many years that both families are going through with no solution in sight.
Both respective mothers are just growing old and both respective brothers need to get married and move along in life.
Many times we hear of unnatural deaths or suicides and without knowing we just condemn and pass nasty comments.
Recently two brothers were found dead.
I was shocked to see all horrible comments and Condemnation.
The problem is MENTAL DISABILITIES is rising and rising fast and its next to impossible if you are poor , to live with this sickness either as a patient or as a relative.
With the two girls admitted we are yet to now take in into our homes another 24 such goan ladies/ girls who are either admitted into IPHB / or we have recommended to take treatment at IPHB.
We are doing this service purely on humanitarian grounds even though it's the government job to care and have homes for people with disabilities.
We have no high expectations from THE Women & Child Dept officials , as they are pretending that there are no poor goan women in distress.
The poor goan ladies who we take into our homes are In a delicate & critical stage of their life such that one day / sooner or later they will be thrown out and that makes them homeless as the siblings are too poor and stressed to look after such people due to poverty.
We take in only the most complicated & highly chronic cases as that's one of the way to reduce homelessness of our own goans as no government department is even having any plan to tackle this rising issue.
I am praying that the New Department started from 1st April ie EMPOWERMENT of PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES addresses the issues of shelter homes for persons with mental & intellectual disabilities systematically and works hand in hand to solve poor goan peoples issues.
It's really getting tough to refuse admissions to such genuinely poor goans who if not admitted into a home and cared for will either be roaming on the streets or on trains just endlessly moving up and down or will be taken advantage off due to their inability to understand their sickness and helpless to fight back.
But on the other hand we need to raise resources continously as its not a cheap and easy service of caring & rehabilitating the poor goans especially girls/ ladies suffering from severe mental disabilities. 
All support is welcome and we request you to walk with us, because as of today we hold the hands of 60 plus goan ladies suffering from mental disabilities in our homes.
And soon this no.will be touching 90 poor goan ladies all suffering from severe mental disabilities and with absolute no family back home to care for them .
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
27Apr/24

RECENTLY BLESSED OUR 1st REFRIGERATED FOOD BANK TRUCK , WITH A CAPACITY LOAD OF 2000 KGS

Updates
27.4.24. 11 am IST 
MNCs & big Factories @ Verna support & join hands with our Food Bank Sangolda to feed the hungry, the homeless & those suffering from sicknesses & disabilities in Goa , by donating their extra fresh canteen food daily.
FOOD BANK SANGOLDA , recently blessed our 1st Refrigerated Food Bank Truck , with a capacity load of 2000 kgs &  with a minimum temperature of minus 2 degrees.
What started from a single fridge as a food bank in May 2017 , to this refrigerated food bank truck in April 2024 , is a big achievement for our NGO & its just something unbelievable for me to even go back and think how it all happened .
♡♡♡ His Eminence , Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao blessed our 1st such  refrigerated food bank truck at his residence last saturday during the heavy rain which Goa experienced, in the presence of :
1 Sir Sanjit Rodrigues IAS,
2.Sir Bosco George retd DIG IPS,
& our Trustees, benefactor, Staff & volunteers.
This food truck was flagged off by The officials of LUPIN & IFB at a simple program in the factory premises of LUPIN @ Verna in the presence of Sir Bosco George retd DIG IPS. 
With the addition of this truck we now are able to collect close to 2500 kgs daily of cooked extra food from the existing capacity of 500 kgs which was our earlier daily collecting in our Eco cars.
1 kg = to 3 meals of food .
( 20% to 30 % is to be considered as wastage due to spoilage of food at any food bank ).
From earlier feeding 1200 meals daily on an average we are now gearing up to feed 6000 meals of food as this truck is fully refrigerated and we have now collecting fresh canteen food daily in Verna Industrial Estate from 10 big factories.
If we can save cooked food from reaching the bins then our environment too will be less stressed.
Just go thru these figures in Goa of good food getting wasted & reaching the dumps ie :
》Daily 15000 kgs
》Monthly 450000 kgs 
》Yearly 5400000 kgs 
Shouting and highlighting this issue is not going to solve this problem. Its should be action.
We can reduce this issue with this 1st truck by  collecting extra cooked food ie :
》Daily 2500 kgs 
》Monthly 75000 kgs
》Yearly 900000 kgs 
We can also feed with this food after spoilage :
》Daily 6000 meals 
》Monthly 180000 meals
》Yearly 2160000 meals .
If we add more food trucks the above statistics change.
So where is this cooked extra food available in Goa to feed the poor ?
☆ 1. Factory canteen 5000 kgs 
☆ 2. Casinos 1000 kgs 
☆ 3. Caterers 1000 kgs 
☆ 4. Wedding venues 2000 kgs 
☆ 5. Bakeries 1000 kgs 
☆ 6. Restaurants 1000 kgs
☆ 7. Starred Hotels 2000 kgs 
☆ 8. Fast food joints 1000 kgs 
☆ 9. Others 1000 kgs .
We have 1st targeted the factories at Verna Industrial Estate and that too only 10 factories in the initial round.
From 1.4 24  @ Verna Industrial Estate we are daily collecting 240 kgs of good warm freshly cooked extra food from 5 factories.
And believe me , our food costs in 3 shelter homes in South Goa has reduced almost 80% in these 27 days which is a huge huge saving to a small NGO Like ours.
Once we start the other 5 factories we are sure to reach 500 kgs of food only in these 10 factories put togther.
The CM of Goa should give some time to my full proof , practical and concrete proposal how we are already reducing wet waste in Goa and if we get more support we can reduce daily 10000 kgs of extra cooked food reaching the bins.
10000 kgs daily = 3000000 kgs Monthly or
10 tonnes daily = 300 tonnes Monthly. 
Once again a pat on our back as we are the 1st NGO  :
◇ In GOA to start a registered food bank Fridge,
◇ In INDIA to install fridges in POLICE Stations,
◇ In India to get food weekly from The Governor,
◇ In India to install fridges in factories,
In Goa to have a fully refrigerated food truck.
We thank : 
♡ 1.God for the all the favours showered upon us 
♡ 2.The Government of Goa for the silent support,
♡ 3.The hundreds of BENEFACTORS who have stood with us last 7 years,
♡ 4.The Trustees, staff, volunteers , well wishers.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
25Apr/24

STARTING OUR 11TH HOME FOR BED RIDDEN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES WITH A FULL TIME DOCTOR ATTACHED TO THIS HOME

Updates
25.4.24. 8pm IST 
STREET PROVIDENCE is starting our 11th Home for bed ridden patients suffering from all types of disabilities with a full time Doctor attached to this home in Goa.
Blessing & innaugration of this home on 8.5.24 
We require your help to get this home up & running. ( list attached).
Its A small 10 bedded Home which can hold both ladies & men. ( it can go up max to 12 beds)
At times those suffering with disabilities are elderly patients who are bedridden and require special care and attention.
With most of our homes almost full to capacity we are unable to accommodate bed ridden patients with disabilities. 
But we are aware that such a Home is the need of the hour and so we employed a full time young doctor and work is going on to get this house up and running.
Usually there is difficulty In getting admission for bed ridden patients .
Bedridden patients are very stressful & difficult to handle & to top it all those bed ridden patients with disabilites is what this project is about.
With a full time Doctor & nurses on board we have managed to over come this one big mind block.
Ultimately life is interesting only when the future is challenging & we have always undertaken challenging & difficult projects towards ending Hunger and homelessness. 
Bed ridden patients usually can't bear the heat & we intend to also install air conditioners so that those suffering from mental disabilities don't get agitated and disturbed with the heat.
If you reading this post can support this home then please be free to contact me thru whatsapp messages on 8380097564.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
17Apr/24

GMR GOA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LTD ( MOPA ), APPROVES STREET PROVIDENCE AS THE NGO FOR DISPOSAL OF LOST AND FOUND ITEMS.

Updates
17.4.24  8 pm IST 
GMR Goa International Airport Ltd ( MOPA ), approves Street Providence as the NGO for disposal of lost and found items.
Today the CEO GMR & our NGO signed a contract for this project.
In the picture attached L to R
♡ Sir Arvind Gawas retd IPS
♡ Sir Bosco George retd DIG IPS
♡ Mr R V Sheshan CEO GMR
♡ Sir N J Reddy , Retd Wing Cmdr
Both Mr Gawas & Mr Reddy are Security heads at MOPA & without both of their support , this would not be a reality.
It's only Through God's Favour that our small NGO was selected / chosen among so many other NGOs in Goa to be appointed as a sort of recovery agent to dispose off all the lost & found as well as confiscated items which don't get approved at the check in counters at MOPA.
And this was due to TWO retired IPS Goan police officers, we were able to be given this opportunity.
Sir Arvind Gawas, retd IPS is the security head of Airport Security @ MOPA and he one day called up another IPS officer Sir Bosco George, 
(ret DIG) who is our full-time volunteer inquiring if our NGO is keen to dispose off the lost & found items.
We agreed and from late December 23 we started picking up twice / thrice a week from MOPA these items at our costs.
We hired warehouses and Segregating goes on weekly.
We get alot of goods which we use for our shelter Homes like Jam , Masada powder, coconuts , syrups, etc. 
We also get alot of Talcum powders, knives, scissors, nail cutters , sports items, etc which we give away free to the poorest of the poor
We get lighters which we sell / attempt to sell.
There are also chargers/ cables / power banks / perfumes / gadgets / batteries etc.
Some items are directly disposed off or burnt to ashes.
One good thing about this contract is ” we are entitled to sell all the items and use the proceeds for the homeless people who we rehabilitate “.
Sounds and looks very lucrative.
But lots of hard work of picking up at short notice with own transport and own labour.
Segregating is the biggest hurdle as all items are mixed up.
Storage is another cost which one needs to bear.
But we feel happy that 70% of these items as of last 4 months are going to the poorest of the poor FREE OF COST even though we can sell it and make a few extra bucks.
Only the lighters we are selling at discounted rate in bulk to recover our pick up and other costs. ( no negative comments pls ).
So next time you forfeit your valuables at the check in counters at MOPA remember some poor person will be using it and also spiritually thanking and blessing you.
We are in the process of opening 4 new shelter homes between May to July &  resources and running such homes, always to be planned well in advance especially the funding.
And through this contract alot of small small daily needs of our homes are met and that's called GRACE OF GOD.
Daily we provide 5 to 6 candid powders to poor patients in Government hospital through our HEALTHCARE SUPPORT BANK, which comes through this project
Every month we give away 400 to 500 pcs of Talcum powder to the poor rag pickers , Sanitary workers, etc.
Its amazing how GOD in his WISDOM keeps his FAVOUR non stop on our NGO inspite of so many battles that I daily go through last 7 years running some of the most complicated & complex projects intertwined that alot of people keep asking me ” how do you manage the bills “.
My answer is this :
GIVE & IT WILL GE GIVEN , GOOD MEASURE …..
12 years ago i met a man ” BJ ” , who i assumed was crazy , but BJ was just giving and giving and I learnt from BJ that only in giving you will get.
( for those who know who I am referring to will vouch for BJ ) .
Thats why in most of our projects we are always giving to the poorest of the poor without expecting them to give me back.
On Coming Sat we share with you another project where GODs Favour has brought down another 20% of our shelter home costing on a major expense / overhead.
All querries if any on the above lost and found items strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
15Apr/24

WE ARE COLLECTING OLD CLOTHES WHICH ONE DOES NOT NEED SO THAT WE CAN GIVE IT TO THE POOR

Updates
15.4.24. 7pm IST 
We @ Street Providence are collecting old  clothes which one does not need so that we can give it to the poor and reduce the load on the garbage dumps.
From 15.4.24 to 15.5.24 for the entire 30 days we will run this drive.
Once monsoon starts for the next 4 months we will not be accepting any clothes.
There is a charge in the form of a donation when we collect your clothes of Rs 5000 for every 30 clothes you give away even if it's in good and new condition.
We will pick the clothes from your door step and we don't have any drop of points.
All clothes are compulsory sent to a laundry before we give it away to the poor.
One needs to understand ” we are in need of donations/ funds to run our shelter Homes and that's why this project of collecting your clothes with a donation.”
If you just want to give away your clothes without a donation, then we can't accept, as our shelter homes are not in need of clothes.
If you wish to cut the load on the garbage bins then this project is for you otherwise we just complain about garbage menace.
If you feel that the poor can be clothed with your good clothes with your donation then this project is for you.
Many will question ” why should we give away our VERY GOOD CLOTHES & pay for it to be taken “.
Well i have explained the reasons above so I hope it's understood.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 /7020314848
13Apr/24

THE MOST DIFFICULT PART AT A SHELTER HOME FOR THE POOR WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES & OTHER DISABILITIES IS “NON STOP HOSPITAL CHECK UPS & FOLLOW UPS”

Updates
13.4.24. 10 pm IST 
The most difficult part at a shelter home for the poor with mental disabilities & other disabilities is “NON STOP HOSPITAL checkups & follow ups”
Many must be always assuming & concluding that running a PROFESSIONAL NGO is all about an easy life where one only collects donations, social media posts , and making publicity.
Believe me, shelter homes for the poor with disabilities is a service &  it's very stressful, complicated, requires complete concentration and very very expensive, both in transportation & manpower.
Summer time is the most difficult season as the heat gets to the nerves of those suffering with disabilities.
Daily we have to trips to hospitals :
☆ Minimum 5 inmates  per day to
☆ Maximum 12 inmates per day.
To move so many people to hospital we require that many cars as the homes are scattered and at times sickness are contagious that only one patient can be transported per car.
》Some are on wheel chair
》Some are on Pampers 
》Some are suffering from mental disabilities along with either TB or HIV.
Take example today 13.4.24
12 inmates taken from 5 shelter homes to different hospitals today.
Along with these inmates, 5 drivers and 8 staff have to accompany them.
Our monthly petrol costs is above Rs 1 lac per month as we not only run 10 shelter homes for the poor with disabilities but we run a huge food bank where we Daily collect 100s of kgs of food to feed 1000s of meals.
With a staff of 60 + and rising,  we have a huge salary bill to take off monthly & its a big responsibility to fulfill.
Since all our homes are rented – monthly rent.
At times the costs are mind boggling for a small NGO as ours.
But we are always keeping our doors open to take in the poorest of the poor goans.
We had taken all our inmates early March 24 to DHS requesting for GOVERNMENT DOCTORS to visit our homes.
They assured to get back in 1 week . Today it's 6 weeks.
Then when I write hard facts and practical points Ministers and bureaucrats get upset.
But this is the reality that THE CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS are not concerned towards the poor goans suffering from disabilities and turning homeless.
At this Rate of hospital trips happening daily in this heat , we are going to all go nuts and it's time to hit the streets as THE DIRECTOR of DHS is yet to reply to our letter ” whether we are going to get GOVERNMENT DOCTORS to visit our homes or not ? “.
If yes then from when and if no then let us know.
Sitting quite does not serve the purpose but only when we hit the streets then everything moves.
Till then we are forced to run these non ending hospital trips.
We require your support in whatever way you can to help us provide relief to those in our homes.
If you go through our face book page or our website Daily, you will see how many friends in our homes are daily date wise taken to hospitals.
This is the least we can do to the poorest of the poor goans by taking them to hospitals daily to ease their pains and misery.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
11Apr/24

THROUGH OUR GIVING AWAY BANK , STREET PROVIDENCE GOA RECENTLY GAVE AWAY A HUGE qty OF TALCUM POWDERS TO PEOPLE BELOW POVERTY LINE

Updates
11.4.24. 10 pm IST 
Through our GIVING AWAY BANK ,  STREET PROVIDENCE  GOA recently gave away a huge qty of Talcum powders to people below poverty line of different brands & of different sizes
And this is just the start / beginning.
We are continously receiving so many different items in excess of what is required for our homes and that's why we are starting another bank- GIVING AWAY BANK.
In a few days from now we will update you the reason for starting this GIVING AWAY BANK.
But at the moment we are highly favored by GOD to be able to daily give away to the poor so many things which even I at times can't imagine how and why it happens in our NGO.
We gave away all these TALCUM powders that you see in the link and in the picture to an NGO who works with people below poverty line be it In slums or just those suffering from poverty.
We are looking for more NGOs who wish to be associated with our various banks so that whatever resources we are having in our banks can be distributed to the poor and needy.
Even old aged Homes and other shelter homes can be associated with our GIVING AWAY BANK as we have items to be used for the poor and needy including fresh food on a daily basis.
We are able to run so many banks due to our strength which LOGISTICS & MANPOWER.
Our friends in the shelter homes suffering from mental disabilities are put to work in most of the banks as that's one way to decrease their medication intake and keep them totally occupied.
In our GIVING AWAY BANK it's all hard work of 
》Collecting items
》Storage in our warehouse 
》Segregating 
》Cleaning 
》Sorting 
》Packing 
& then distribution.
But that's my basic principle:
Give & it shall be given unto you,
Good measure , pressed down,
Shaken toghter & running over ,
Will be poured into your lap.
Usually we only collect collect & then throw out.
But there are so many poor people below poverty line who might just need things which you might have.
We are that link – but there is a cost which the donnor has to bear.
These small gestures towards those below poverty line are transferred to the donnor through spiritual blessings.
We @ Street Providence are a testimony to so many spiritual blessings coming our way that this is one of the reasons we are always adding more and more projects.
We thank so many silent donors who keep donating in many ways to our various projects/ Banks and in return they get spiritual blessings.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
10Apr/24

WE ADMITTED ONE YOUNG GOAN UNMARRIED GIRL WHO IS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MENTAL DISABILITIES

Updates
10.4.2024. 10 pm IST
Today we admitted one young goan unmarried girl who is suffering from severe mental disabilities and has only a bed ridden parent who can't move out of the bed.
Situation is so complicated that this girl has been difficult to manage and keeps walking around the village and is highly vulnerable to exploitation. 
She is a long term patient of IPHB & has been endless admitted, treated, discharged, back to streets, again picked up, admitted @ and life goes on.
Since only 1 parent is Alive and that too bed ridden and she is the only child adds more misery to the existing situation.
Relatives are supporting but in due course once that single parent hits the bucket its going to be very difficult for this young girl.
How long will the relatives run around ?
This young girl is like 7 to 8 years on Severe psychiatric medication from IPH , which she avoids taking once discharged from hospital as there is just no one to give her the daily medicine, which further complicates her recovery.
Very aggressive by nature which can be due to no parents love or just rejection from society or many old hurts which makes her aggressive.
We still have another 27 such psychiatric ladies to be admitted into our home either who are admitted into IPHB for treatment or who we have recommended to take treatment at IPHB so that they are stabilised.
It's difficult, sad, complicated, frustrating , heart wrenching to see our poor goan ladies/ girl turning or turned fully psychiatric with no freaking future or no government shelter homes to allow them to live in dignity.
Slowly such chronic cases of mental disabilities will not respond to medication and that will further complicate their rehabilitation.
It's all going wrong for the poor and the vulnerable.
The Hon CM of Goa needs to address this issue else mark by words ” in a few months max in 2 years you will find people with psychiatric issues roaming on streets with choppers and sticks “.
Already one city in Goa is having so many homeless people imagine if they turn psychiatric you will find it very difficult in this city to even move our house.
We are committed to helping as many poor goans suffering from mental disabilities by providing relief & rehabilitation especially the 27 poor ladies who we have committed to take in.
Your support is what drives us to take in many poor goans with mental disabilities and vulnerable to being exploited if on the streets.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
09Apr/24

IF YOU EVER VISITED NAVTARA RESTAURANT @ PANJIM MARKET , YOU WOULD HAVE OBSERVED AN ELDERLY POOR GOAN LADY ALWAYS IN UNCLEAN ATTIRE SHOUTING, ABUSING

Updates
9.4.2024. 10 pm IST 
If you ever visited Navtara Restaurant @ Panjim market , Goa in the last 10 years, you would have observed an elderly poor goan lady always in unclean attire shouting, abusing and very destructive right on the footpath and mostly in the corner.
( I am not quoting her name nor her picture, let's see how many know who I am referring too)
Well , there are Angel's @ Goa Police.
I am sure most of you living in an around panjim city would have seen her and last 8 years of our NGO , every month one or two calls would come to rehabilitate her.
Immediately I would call Panjim Police station but always excuses and nothing much to expect as the lady is & was a hard nut to crack as she was too complicated to handle.
But that was all the past.
Until just a month back, there was New INSPECTOR of PANJIM Police station appointed, our good friend & who is also a good friend of the poor & homeless, INSPECTOR VIJAY CHODANKAR.
I one-day brought up this topic of this lady & within 2 days INSPECTOR Vijay got his team to do the needful.
PSI  Mr A.Khan was given the responsibility and although they took more than 12 hours and lots of manpower and huge amount of paper work, this elderly goan lady was admitted into IPHB I can say for the 1st time.
This should have happened 10 years back.
Rain , sun , winter – sleeps in abandoned vehicles or on the streets, not sure about her daily bath & other hygiene.
But very very unclean and unhygienc.
If it was not for ANGELS ie , 
The INSPECTOR Mr Vijay Chondankar &
The PSI Mr A. Khan
this elderly goan lady would have still been on the corner of NAVTARA , Panjim Market.
Well it does not stop here .
IPHB initially refused admission inspite of a Magistrate Order as the lady refused to be admitted.
I mean no person with mental disabilities will evey accept they are suffering.
Anyway after admission into IPHB , the lady would have been back out after 15 days.
But this is what I wish to highlight ie 
70 residents around Navtara Restaurant put their signature on a appeal stating that the lady should be sent to a shelter home once ready for discharge & this was addressed to the :
Local MLA,
Mayor , Corporation of city of Panjim,
INSPECTOR Of Panjim Police station,
I assume and i am sure :
☆ 1. The  INSPECTOR of Panjim Police station wrote to the IPHB that once discharge of the lady is ready please hand over this lady to the Police to place In a shelter home. 

☆ 2. May be even The Local MLA & THE MAYOR and the Corporation endorsed these views
Because as of date This elderly lady is not on the streets of Panjim which means she is in IPHB taking treatment.
This is why I called the two police officials ANGELS.
In the last few years, most of the Inspectors are not too co operative towards poor homeless people on the streets suffering from mental disabilities as there are no designated government homes once discharged from IPHB.
So basically it's a waste of time , manpower, paperwork, where even if picked up and put into IPHB, once discharged it's back to the streets.
But since we have a good relationship with both The INSPECTOR & The Sub INSPECTOR, this elderly lady will be rehabilitated either in our home or at Provedoria. 
That the State will decide.
But Like this elderly goan lady @ Navtara , I am aware of 100's such cases across Goa & it's high time Society takes a lead to reach out to such poor people living a horrible life.
Just imagine 70 residents put pressure on their Local MLA, Corporation and the police with their letter and what did not happen in 10 years, happened quickly.
☆ 1. We as Society expect The Police to do the rehabilitation of people on the streets but we need to know POLICE don't have such homes.

☆ 2. NGOs like us expect the Police to pick up such people and get them into IPHB for treatment & then send them to us , but that never happens.

☆ 3. The State assumes that NGOs like us will go on taking such cases off the starts but without grants it's just not going to happen.

☆ 4. Ultimately its these poor vulnerable goans who suffer as all of us fail them.
To all those who wondered where this elderly goan lady disappeared ” well she is in IPHB “
If anyone knows her family please do let me know.
We are on stand by to take into our home as and when she is discharged from IPHB but to be routed thru the Police.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848