HUMAN INTEREST

Elders abused at state-run homes: GCWT

A shocking revelation by Michael Ferns, chairman of the Goa Citizens Welfare Trust, on the horrific state of affairs at the state run orphanages and old age homes wherein children and senior citizens live under inhumane has totally exposed the Provedoria, a wing of the government of Goa and demands action from authorities.

The shoddy state of affairs of the government run institution came to light after Ferns along with his team members Earnesto Morais,  Roque Barretto and Lazvina Fernandes conducted surprise checks at 11 homes run by Provedoria, the institute of public assistance.

“We conducted a surprise inspection of all Provedorias in Goa after receiving complaints from citizens of the poor standards of living at orphanages and old age homes under Provedoria. Our inspection started in February 2012 from the Margao old age home where 52 male and female senior citizen inmates reside. On our inspection we witnessed unhygienic conditions in which our senior citizen inmates were living in. One particular 80 plus year old inmate lady was sleeping on a bed with the mattress full of bedbugs as their beds were never cleaned nor attended too. The toilets that our senior citizens use are mostly Indian toilets which normally old people have difficulty in using. There are no safety railings to help them from their rooms to the toilets or any other place,” he narrates.

Widely reported footages of the operation conducted by the NGO showed flooring of all old age homes fitted with tiles which are prone to accidents and no non-slip tiles were fitted in any of the old age homes. Footages further suggested that the lighting in all these old age homes was very poor where visibility for normal people was difficult and the walking areas and toilets were in dark.

“During inspection we noticed that there were no emergency lights and alarm systems and no nurse to attend to our senior citizens during the night. The food provided to our senior citizens was of poor quality and non-nutritious and most of the inmates complained of insufficient food being provided to them so much so that at times inmates who can afford purchase their own bread to fill their stomachs. Further we found out that sweepers and cleaners also served as cooks as the government has no funds to hire neither a proper cook nor a proper supplier who could supply proper food to the inmates. We were informed by the inmates that servants were not attending to them at all and inmates helped each other themselves. Worse still, most of the inmates and especially the bedridden had not been bathed for months together.

Furthermore we found that most of the beds were without mattresses and bed sheets and no water beds were available in any of the old age homes for the bedridden inmates. The rooms, toilets, kitchen and other areas of the old age homes and orphanages had not been cleaned for days together. We also came across damaged floorings, damaged roofs and no maintenance done posing danger to the inmates,” informed Ferns.

The team also inspected the home at Chimbel in Tiswadi which houses of a mental ssylum and old age shelter for men and women and were shocked to find that these inmates too lived under inhumane conditions.

“Inmates complained of assault by one staff members. At the time of our inspection on April 3, 2012 the assailant was found to be under the influence of alcohol while on duty and on speaking to him he mentioned to us that he was paid a salary of Rs. 19000/- per month plus benefits and that he worked as a cleaner. We inspected the toilets and found that sewage tanks were clogged and no repairs undertaken,” said Ferns.

The NGO took up the matter to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who assured he will take up the matter on priority basis and assured immediate action would be taken.

 “We urged Parrikar to conduct an enquiry on the management of Provedoria, starting with the Provedoria Director Vinesh Arlekar, Assistant Directors Antonette Sequiera and Vishwas Nayak and Assistant Engineer Shrinivas Rao for NEGLIGENCE AND VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS and necessary action to be taken, which would set an example for future government employees to take their jobs seriously and to work with dedication and give value for income tax payers money. We requested the CM to also conduct an enquiry on Rakesh Hadgaonkar cleaner at the Mental Asylum and old age home at Chimbel for allegedly assaulting a senior citizen lady and necessary action should be taken,” he informed.